Félix Auger-Aliassime has hired Ivan Ljubicic as his new coach, the Canadian announced on Instagram on Friday. Ljubicic is best known for his work with Roger Federer, helping the Swiss champion win Grand Slam titles in his mid-30s. Auger-Aliassime, currently ranked No. 5 in the world, begins his partnership with Ljubicic at the Shanghai Masters.
Why Ljubicic for Auger-Aliassime?
Auger-Aliassime has not won a Masters 1000 title or a Grand Slam despite ranking in the top 10 for nearly four years and possessing one of the biggest serves on the ATP Tour. According to Tennisuptodate, the Canadian has struggled to advance past the quarterfinal stage, a pattern that intensified after he ended his nearly decade-long coaching relationship with Frederic Fontang in July following a Wimbledon quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic. The appointment suggests the team believes Ljubicic can identify and unlock something that has eluded previous coaching arrangements.
What Ljubicic changed for Federer
Ljubicic's signature adjustment with Federer was not a complete backhand rebuild but rather a shift toward a flatter, more aggressive stroke. Rather than the looped and defensive backhand Federer had relied on for years, Ljubicic pushed for a flatter approach that allowed Federer to hit through the ball and take it earlier in the court. That mechanical change fed into a broader tactical shift: Federer began shortening points and attacking instead of absorbing pressure and waiting for openings. Ljubicic's work coincided with Federer's racket-head switch and a full season away from the tour recovering from knee surgery, so the exact contribution of each factor remains difficult to isolate.