Félix Auger-Aliassime, the Canadian tennis sensation, has made history by reaching the semifinals of the ATP Finals for the very first time, securing a commanding 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over Germany’s Alexander Zverev.
The Montreal native, now 25, concluded the round-robin stage with a record of 2-1, finishing as the runner-up in the Bjorn Borg Group. He is set to take on world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz from Spain on Saturday for a chance to advance further in this prestigious tournament.
Seeded eighth in Turin, Auger-Aliassime achieved the only break of the match right at the end of the opening set.
Despite having four chances to break, Zverev struggled, racking up 18 unforced errors out of 27 in the second set, visibly expressing his frustration towards his team.
During the tiebreak, Zverev faltered with a simple return that found the net, giving Auger-Aliassime two match points. The Canadian swiftly capitalized, as Zverev sent a forehand long.
“I played an excellent first set. Though he had some chances, I delivered crucial serves to fend them off,” remarked Auger-Aliassime, who has jumped three spots to No. 5 in the ATP Live Rankings. “The first set felt strong, and the beginning of the second set was as well. I had ample opportunities.”
“When such moments arise, it’s vital to stay focused on the present, although missed chances linger in your mind, making the match a bit tense. Still, I managed to hold my serve, and the tiebreaker remained tight until the end.”
Auger-Aliassime improved his record against Zverev to 4-6, having won both encounters this year, including a notable third-round triumph at the U.S. Open.
Zverev, a two-time champion of the ATP Finals, ended his campaign with a record of 1-2, failing to progress alongside American Ben Shelton (0-3).
Defending champion and world No. 2 Jannik Sinner from Italy dominated his group, winning all matches, and will face No. 7 Alex de Minaur from Australia in the other semifinal. Sinner triumphed over Shelton with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (3) in Friday’s earlier match.
Against Alcaraz, Auger-Aliassime holds a 3-4 record, with the Spanish ace winning their last four matches.
“This tournament holds immense value for players,” Auger-Aliassime stated regarding his upcoming match against Alcaraz. “It’s like a grand finale, and looking at the list of champions, many have been No. 1s. I aspire to reach the final, but I must face an exceptional player to get there. I’ll seize any opportunity I have.”
Alcaraz swept the Jimmy Connors group, ensuring he will close the season as the top-ranked player on the ATP Tour.
This marks Auger-Aliassime’s second appearance at the ATP Finals. In 2022, he achieved a stunning upset against Spanish legend Rafael Nadal but did not progress beyond his group after two additional losses.
After a strong finish to qualify for this event, he faced challenges early on, appearing to injure his leg during a 7-5, 6-1 loss to Sinner in his opening match.
Fortunately, Auger-Aliassime quickly rebounded, overcoming a set down to defeat Shelton 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5, putting himself in a prime position to advance.
