The son of a Togolese immigrant who couldn’t pursue his soccer dreams has just reminded the tennis world why Canada should never be underestimated. Félix Auger-Aliassime’s journey to the 2025 US Open semifinals represents more than athletic achievement.
It’s a story of family sacrifice, cultural pride, and using success to lift others up. His aggressive style and big serves got him this far, but his genuine personality and commitment to giving back make him impossible to ignore.
How Did Félix Auger-Aliassime’s Parents Shape His Tennis Journey?
Félix was born on August 8, 2000, in Montreal, Canada. His father, Sam Aliassime, grew up in Togo, West Africa, before emigrating to Quebec. His mother, Marie Auger, is French-Canadian and has provided steady support both on and off the court.
Sam’s path to tennis wasn’t straightforward. After realizing he couldn’t pursue soccer professionally, he switched to tennis with help from a local coach. His passion for the sport drove him to start tennis academies in Togo and Quebec, and he naturally passed that love on to his children, especially Félix.
Recently, I had the chance to meet Sam Aliassime, founder of his own academy in Quebec City and the father of ATP’s no. 9 player.
On @TennisCanada, here’s the 1st of a series of articles on this self-made man who guides young players towards their future.https://t.co/cSwL2H9SRe pic.twitter.com/QQ8sB4gYha— Paul Rivard (@Paul6Rivard) February 27, 2023
Though Sam never played professionally, he made his impact through coaching and charity work, helping young African athletes in both Canada and abroad. Moving to Canada opened new doors for his family. He guided Auger-Aliassime from age four, enrolling him in the Académie de Tennis Herisset-Bordeleau in Quebec City.
Sam left Togo not just for himself but to give his family better opportunities. His journey centers on overcoming struggles, finding acceptance, and giving back to his roots. One of his biggest efforts focuses on promoting tennis education for African youth by emphasizing talent development and ambition over fancy facilities.
What Makes Auger-Aliassime’s Charitable Work So Impactful?
Félix channels most of his charitable efforts through the #FAAPointsForChange initiative, launched in 2020 with BNP Paribas and NGO Care. For every match point he wins, $20 gets donated ($5 from Auger-Aliassime and $15 from BNP Paribas) to support education, children’s rights, and sports in Togo’s Kara region. Since the program started, it has renovated 10 schools, helped over 2,500 kids, and provided school supplies, sports gear, and medical aid.
Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime gives new meaning to “every point matters” 👏🎾
Watch the full exclusive interview here: https://t.co/qroNVl7V30 pic.twitter.com/vBqvjA7MnN
— CBC Sports (@cbcsports) September 3, 2025
During an interview with Tennis Canada, Sam explained the motivation behind their work: “One day, Félix and I were talking. A lot of players of African origin have been successful in the US, Canada and Europe. Why aren’t there any from the continent? So, I went to see what’s going on and especially what’s not going on. Everything’s in place, but there’s no structure. I said to myself I’d try to apply over there what I put in place here.”
He continues helping young African players through his own academy and collaborations with others. Auger-Aliassime’s sister Malika, also a tennis player, supports their father by handling the administrative side of his charitable work.
The #FAAPointsForChange program expanded its reach in 2025 by offering scholarships to 30 university students from underprivileged backgrounds in Togo (as per Borgen Magazine). The scholarships cover tuition and living costs through the King Baudouin Foundation. Auger-Aliassime even traveled to Togo to meet kids, teachers, and community leaders to see the real impact of his efforts.
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His fiancée, Nina Ghaibi, plays a crucial role in his charitable work. She helps plan events, manage operations, and handle communications, keeping everything running smoothly. Her support has been vital in expanding programs and keeping Auger-Aliassime connected to his mission.
How Has Auger-Aliassime’s Career Evolved Through 2025?
Auger-Aliassime turned professional in 2017, one year after winning the US Open junior title in 2016. That same year, he also captured his first ATP Challenger trophy in Lyon.
He made his Grand Slam debut at the 2018 US Open but exited early. The 2019 season marked his breakthrough year. He reached his first ATP final in Rio de Janeiro, then made two more in Lyon and Stuttgart. His biggest highlight came at the Miami Open, where he reached the semifinals after defeating several top players. That run launched him into the world’s top 25 for the first time.
The Canadian star reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2021. He later helped Canada win the Davis Cup in 2022. After several runner-up finishes in ATP finals, he finally claimed his first ATP title in Rotterdam that same year. He also reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the fourth round of the French Open in 2022. Auger-Aliassime hit his career-high ranking of World No. 6 in November 2022.
The 2023 season brought early exits in all Majors and injury struggles. In 2024, he climbed back into the top 20 rankings, reached the fourth round of the French Open, and earned an Olympic bronze medal in mixed doubles.
Back-to-back-to-back top 15 wins at a Slam.
Felix Auger-Aliassime is back. pic.twitter.com/89wOVA7WQ6
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2025
The 2025 season has marked a strong resurgence for Auger-Aliassime. He captured two ATP tour titles at the Adelaide International and Open Occitanie. Most importantly, he reached the US Open semifinals. The last time he made it this far in the tournament was 2021. He now owns seven ATP titles, all of them coming on hard courts.
