Felix Auger-Aliassime showcased his resilience by staging a remarkable comeback to secure his spot in the Paris Masters final.
After trailing 1-4 in the second set, Auger-Aliassime fought back fiercely against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, clinching victory with a score of 7-6(3), 6-4, marking his second appearance in an ATP Masters 1000 final.
Bublik, ranked No. 13, displayed his frustration by smashing his racket into the ground, suffering his fifth straight defeat in their head-to-head encounters.
As he served for the match, Auger-Aliassime unleashed his 12th ace. A stunning forehand winner at the net set him up for his first match point, which he converted with another powerful forehand. He celebrated by patting his heart and acknowledging the cheering crowd.
Auger-Aliassime becomes the first player from outside Europe to reach ATP Masters 1000 finals on multiple surfaces since Kei Nishikori in 2016.
His previous ATP Masters 1000 final appearance was at the 2024 Madrid Open—played on clay—where he fell to Andrey Rublev.
This year, Auger-Aliassime triumphed in tournaments in Adelaide, Montpellier, and Brussels, aiming for his ninth career title, which would mark his first at the ATP 1000 level.
Bublik, being the first Kazakh to reach a Masters semifinal, faced Auger-Aliassime for the fourth time in six matches, extending the Canadian’s winning streak. Auger-Aliassime is now on track to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, where a win in Sunday’s final would secure him the eighth and final spot.
The ninth-seeded Canadian is set to compete against either Jannik Sinner or defending champion Alexander Zverev for the prestigious title.
Sinner and Zverev were set to face off in their semifinal later on Saturday at the La Défense Arena, with the four-time Grand Slam champion Sinner needing to win to regain the No. 1 ranking from Carlos Alcaraz.
— With contributions from the Associated Press
