(August 26, 2022) LONG ISLAND CITY, Queens, New York – Babolat brought out its young stars to help launch the new Pure Aero racquet on Thursday. World No. 4 Carlos Alcaraz, No. 14 Leylah Fernandez and No. 8 Felix Auger-Aliassime who use the Pure Aero were on hand at Court 16 in Queens to help launch the new racquets.

Tennis Panorama Had a chance to talk to all three players at the event.

Tennis Panorama News:: You are coming in as the fourth seed at the US Open. What is this like for you, it’s a totally different situation for you than last year.

Carlos Alcaraz: “It’s a totally different thing, last year was the first time at the US Open. I had great players, great matches, like Stefanos Tsitsipas and played Rafa (Nadal) for the first time. It was pretty amazing for me. This year I have a lot of challenges in this tournament but obviously I’m going to go for it and enjoy it like last year.”

Tennis Panorama News: You come into this US Open as a defending finalist, last year what a total surprise. Can you talk about what you are feeling coming into this year’s tournament?

Leylah Fernandez: “”Excitement! That’s one feeling that comes to mind that I felt yesterday when I was playing the (Ukraine charity) exhibition. It was just excitement I was happy to be back here in New York. I’m happy to be playing in from of the New York crowd once again and hopefully it will be as electric, this year as last year.

TPN: What would the Leylah of this year tell the Leylah of last year. You’ve already won a tournament, tell the Leylah of last year before the US Open.

LF: Just keep having fun, keep enjoying the moment. Tennis is a crazy adventure, you go through some highs and then there’s some lows, very lows. You have losses, your doubt yourself, so I think enjoy yourself, keep enjoying tennis. Get on the court, compete and have fun, knowing that you are able to di that. Doesn’t matter the result win or lose, at least you are able to get up with a smile.”

Tennis Panorama News: You come into this tournament defending semifinal points. How does it feel?

Felix Auger-Aliassime: “I don’t see as defending but it feels great. I like coming back to tournaments where I have good memories. I prefer coming back knowing that I played the semifinals last year, I had a good run, I played some good tennis, rather the opposite. That’s a position that I want to be in, a position I like being in. So, it’s great for me, it’s a chance to play well again in this tournament and try to go far and hopefully go further than last year.”

“They are very passionate, exciting young players with great personalities,” Babolat CEO Eric Babolat said. “They play with a lot of energy and passion and that’s exciting for fans and inspiring for kids to see.”

“It’s a huge honor to be in the little postcard with not only Felix and Alcaraz, the next up-and-coming, but also Nadal,” Fernandez said to media. “I’ve seen all the racquets, all the pictures on the racquet, and I was always dreaming like, One day I want to be there with him, kind of be there side-by-side. That dream did come true.”