Félix Auger-Aliassime has brought Ivan Ljubicic into his coaching setup, according to reporting from Puntodebreak. The Croatian coach, who previously worked with the French Tennis Federation, joins Auger-Aliassime's team with an explicit focus on helping the Canadian pursue major titles.
Why the coaching change matters
Auger-Aliassime has reached a critical juncture in his career at 26 years old. His consistency has allowed him to compete at a high level, but he has acknowledged a gap in performance during critical moments that has limited his breakthrough to Grand Slam titles. The addition of Ljubicic, who coached Roger Federer among other elite players, signals an intentional shift in approach designed to close that gap.
Timing and immediate context
The announcement came ahead of the ATP Shanghai 2026 tournament, where Auger-Aliassime faced an important opportunity to accumulate ranking points. The timing is strategic: the Canadian was entering a stretch of the season where he defends significant points from prior victories, including a Brussels title and a Paris final appearance.
What Auger-Aliassime seeks from Ljubicic
The Canadian has expressed a desire to learn from Ljubicic's experience coaching one of tennis's greatest players. Auger-Aliassime has also reflected on his previous work with Toni Nadal, drawing lessons from that collaboration as he shapes his path forward with his new coaching structure.