Canada's Auger-Aliassime entering Indian Wells with high expectations for himself

Felix Auger-Aliassime turned a long-awaited corner in his tennis career by winning his first career ATP Tour title in Rotterdam last month, in his ninth singles final.

But the spark that turned into a flame in 2022 was lit at the BNP Paribas Open last October.

And it came after a loss, an opening 6-4, 6-2 defeat at the hands of veteran Spanish lefty Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

It wasn't that the 21-year-old Canadian lost, or even the seven double faults.

It was how he lost.

"It's funny because as much as the wins are very meaningful, I feel like that loss was kind of a realization for me. I had just played really well in New York [at the U.S. Open] and made the semifinals. And I came here thinking, `Okay, this is going to keep going," Auger-Aliassime said Friday.

Auger-Aliassime said he lost the first set, and then it just went south from there. There was no fighting spirit, no trying to somehow find a solution to turn things around.

Auger-Aliassime played indoors in Vienna, Paris and Stockholm before wrapping up his season. But that day in the desert, something clicked.

"My mindset switched a little bit after that match. I had a talk with my team. And I had a talk with myself. I told myself I can't afford to play these kinds of matches, any more," he said. "There are always little stepping stones in a career, and that was a moment I won't forget — that match, and the conversations that came after that match."

Nice to see you again Palm Springs