Auger-Aliassime Triumphs in Basel, Shelton’s Turin Aspirations Dashed
Shapovalov gears up for QF showdown against Fonseca at ATP 500
October 23, 2025
Swiss Indoors Basel
Felix Auger-Aliassime narrowly defeats Marin Cilic in a gripping two-set match on Thursday in Basel.
By Andy West
Felix Auger-Aliassime makes a commendable return to form at the Swiss Indoors Basel, a tournament close to his heart, just when his momentum needed a boost.
The two-time defending champion prevailed over Marin Cilic with a score of 7-6(2), 7-6(2), securing a spot in the quarter-finals of the ATP 500 and enhancing his chances for the Nitto ATP Finals. Last year, Auger-Aliassime faced an early exit in the second round against eventual champion Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, but this year, he was determined not to repeat that fate.
Displaying remarkable skill, Auger-Aliassime outperformed the former World No. 3 Cilic with a staggering 38 winners compared to Cilic’s 21, leveling their Lexus ATP Head2Head encounters at 3-3. Each set was hard-fought, leading to nail-biting tie-breaks, yet it was the fifth-seeded Canadian who showcased his strength in clutch moments, clinching victory in one hour and 47 minutes.
As the race for coveted spots at the Nitto ATP Finals heats up, Auger-Aliassime couldn’t have chosen a better moment to ignite a six-match winning streak on the indoor hard courts of Europe. Following his third ATP 250 title in Brussels just days ago, he has impressively dispatched tough competitors like Gabriel Diallo and Cilic on his journey to the quarter-finals in Basel.
Currently sitting ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, the 25-year-old is closing in on rivals above him. He trails seventh-placed Alex de Minaur by a mere 400 points (who is competing in the Vienna quarter-finals) and is just 290 points behind Lorenzo Musetti, who is also still in the Vienna draw.
Meanwhile, another contender for Turin, sixth-placed Ben Shelton, fell short of facing Auger-Aliassime, as Jaume Munar upset the 2024 finalist with a score of 6-3, 6-4. This marks Munar’s fourth victory over a Top 10 player, having now defeated Shelton in all three of their encounters in 2025 (Dallas, Rome, Basel).
In other action on Thursday, Denis Shapovalov continued his winning streak, defeating Valentin Royer 7-6(3), 6-2, setting up an exciting quarter-final clash against #NextGenATP talent Joao Fonseca.
