The grass-court season has concluded with two major coaching changes on the ATP tour. Both Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jiri Lehecka have officially announced the end of their long-term partnerships immediately following their individual runs at Wimbledon.
Why did Felix Auger-Aliassime split with Frederic Fontang?
Felix Auger-Aliassime confirmed that Wimbledon was his final tournament alongside Frederic Fontang. The two worked together for ten years, starting when the Canadian player was 16 years old. Under Fontang’s guidance, Auger-Aliassime won nine ATP singles titles and reached a career-high ranking of World No. 4.
Their final event together ended in the quarterfinals at the All England Club. Auger-Aliassime lost a close five-set match to Novak Djokovic that lasted over five hours. He won 28 games and hit 29 aces during the defeat. In his official statement, Auger-Aliassime shared:
“Today, I want to express my deepest respect, gratitude, and admiration for his dedication and the passion he brought every single day to helping me achieve my goals. Since I was 16 years old, he has guided my development and helped me experience incredible moments through this sport. I wouldn’t be the player I am today without you.”
Jiri Lehecka part ways with Michal Navratil
Czech tennis player Jiri Lehecka also announced the end of his coaching term with Michal Navratil. The pair spent eight years working together as Lehecka rose from the junior ranks into the top tier of men’s tennis.
Lehecka concluded his time with Navratil after reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon. The 22-year-old played a tight round-of-16 match against Alexander Zverev, hitting 14 aces but eventually losing 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(6).
Lehecka published his official statement in both Czech and English:
“When I look back, I see eight years filled with hard work, sacrifices, victories, and defeats. Every single one of them had its purpose. Thank you, Michal, for being such an important part of this journey. Our journey together ends here. With humility, great motivation, and unwavering determination, I’m looking forward to the next chapter.”
What lies ahead for both ATP players in the 2026 season?
Both players are looking for a fresh start as the tour transitions to the upcoming hard-court tournaments. Auger-Aliassime remains inside the top five of the world rankings, while Lehecka remains established inside the top 20. Neither player has announced a replacement coach yet, but both expressed appreciation for the professional foundations built by their former teams.
