Andy Roddick says what Felix Auger-Aliassime shouldn’t do while he waits for ATP Finals confirmation

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Felix Auger-Aliassime’s ATP Finals fate will be determined by how well Lorenzo Musetti performs in Athens.

The Canadian currently sits eighth in the Live ATP Race to Turin, but would fall to ninth if Musetti were to win the Hellenic Championship this week.

Auger-Aliassime is no longer in control of his own destiny, following his decision to withdraw from the Moselle Open in Metz.

As the 25-year-old faces a nervous wait to see if he’ll qualify for the ATP Finals, he has some important decisions to make.

Weighing in with his thoughts, former world number one Andy Roddick told Auger-Aliassime what he shouldn’t do this week.

Andy Roddick says Felix Auger-Aliassime doesn’t have time to go home before the ATP Finals

During the latest episode of ‘Served with Andy Roddick’, the American gave some advice to the world number eight.

“It’s not enough time to go home. The way I would go through it if I were FAA [Felix Auger-Aliassime] is that I don’t need a lot of reps. I have played nothing but matches for the last two months since the US Open,” he said.

“By the way, he was seeded 28 or 30 or something for the US Open, and now he has almost qualified for World Tour Finals, so that will show you what a ripper he has been on.

“I think you find some place that you want to go, and I think you take your entire training team, so maybe not a coach, I don’t think he is going to go there and want to hit a ton of balls.”

Roddick thinks Auger-Aliassime should focus on his fitness and recovery, ahead of a potential return to action in Turin.

“I don’t think he needs to find a groove on his serve or anything like that. I think you go and almost say, let’s get my body healthy. He talks about how he is beat up. He is probably getting treatment three or four hours a day, where even if he doesn’t get the nod and get into the World Tour Finals, they have started that off-season rehab situation,” he said.

“He is not going to go and do a ton of fitness, so I think you basically go and treat your body somewhere.

“I don’t know if it’s Amsterdam or any place warm where he can get to, where he lies on a beach for four hours a day, and then does body treatment for four hours a day. That is where my mind would go.”

The American warned Auger-Aliassime against returning home over the coming days.

“It’s like okay, I could use a three-day reset, even if I am going to go and play in Turin. That is where my mind would go. I don’t know what he decided, but those are all the mini decisions. Can I get home for four days? Is that worth the body clock toll? Or do I want to stay in a place for six days on the off chance that I get into this tournament?” said Roddick.

“The point being, I think his feet are going to be up, or he is going to be on a flat table getting treatment and getting ready.

“The tank is on empty. He has played so many matches. And I think this is a responsible decision.”

Only time will tell what Auger-Aliassime will decide to do, but if his comments in Paris are anything to go by, he could certainly do with a rest…

Felix Auger-Aliassime said he’s been dealing with ‘a lot’ of physical issues

Explaining his decision to withdraw from the Moselle Open, Auger-Aliassime shared a concerning fitness update during his latest press conference.

“I don’t talk about it much, but I’ve had a lot of physical issues this week, and I don’t want to repeat the mistakes of my past,” he said.

“My health comes first, even before [ATP Finals] qualification.

“If I qualify, great; if not, Lorenzo [Musetti] will deserve his spot.

“That’s my decision.”

Only time will tell if it will be Auger-Aliassime or Musetti completing the ATP Finals lineup in Turin…

Musetti will play Stan Wawrinka in his Hellenic Championship opener on Wednesday, November 5.