Auger-Aliassime Finds Encouragement Despite Sinner’s Victory: ‘The Gap is Narrow’
The Canadian star ascends to eighth place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin following an impressive run in Paris.
November 02, 2025
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Felix Auger-Aliassime receives his finalist trophy following a match against Jannik Sinner in Paris on Sunday.
By Jerome Coombe
Felix Auger-Aliassime’s thrilling journey at the Rolex Paris Masters culminated just shy of triumph as he faced a 6-4, 7-6(4) defeat to Jannik Sinner in the final. The match was marked by razor-thin margins — a handful of missed opportunities and some exceptional serves from his opponent — but it also showcased the resurgence of the Canadian as a formidable player on the grand stage.
Despite the setback, Auger-Aliassime departs the French capital with a significant takeaway: his impressive run to the final has elevated him to eighth place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, bolstering his chances for a second appearance at the highly prestigious Nitto ATP Finals. The 25-year-old maintains a 160-point advantage over ninth-placed Lorenzo Musetti, who is set to compete at the ATP 250 event in Athens.
“It was tough being on the court and reflecting on certain points,” Auger-Aliassime remarked after their one-hour and 52-minute showdown. “You have to accept that the match is done, and as long as I’m on the court, even being match point down, I believe I have a fighting chance to turn things around.”
“Yet when it’s over, acceptance is crucial. I wish I had started stronger; I can’t afford to give my opponent those openings at this level. I could have applied more pressure on his serve, but he was simply on fire, delivering exceptional serves at critical moments. It’s time to focus on the positives moving forward.”
Though the sting of defeat was palpable, the overall experience was illuminating. Auger-Aliassime’s path through the tournament included stirring comebacks in his opening matches, characterized by assertive, attacking tennis and a revitalized sense of confidence.
“I truly enjoyed my week filled with high-pressure moments and excellent tennis,” Auger-Aliassime shared. “I owe a big thank you to the crowd for their unwavering support. They were fantastic all week and really wanted a third set!”
According to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Auger-Aliassime leads the tour with 82 indoor victories this decade, with seven out of his eight ATP Tour titles secured in similar conditions, including wins this year in Marseille and Brussels.
In his second ATP Masters 1000 final against Sinner, the defeat was not indicative of a lack of class but rather minute execution differences.
“Honestly, I don’t see a vast gap here. I’m getting closer with every match we play,” Auger-Aliassime noted, now trailing Sinner 2-3 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. “This encounter was notably closer. At the US Open, I managed to take a set but lost both the first and fourth sets rather poorly.”
“What stood out today was the tight competition. It all came down to the quality of his serve and return game. He deserves credit for that. Yet there are moments where I know I could have performed better. I feel a bit frustrated over some aspects of the match.”
Auger-Aliassime praised Sinner’s excellence, as the Italian regained the World No. 1 spot with this victory, losing only four out of 44 first-serve points on his way to his 23rd tour-level title.
While the loss was disappointing, Auger-Aliassime is leaving Paris with renewed determination and a solid position to secure a spot in the coveted season finale. He made his Nitto ATP Finals debut in 2022, clinching a victory against none other than Rafael Nadal.
