Auger-Aliassime to ATP Finals Semifinals: Faces Alcaraz

TURIN, Italy – Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated two-time champion Alexander Zverev and secured his place in the ATP Finals semifinals on Friday. The Canadian tennis player will now face Carlos Alcaraz, who arrives after obtaining the number 1 position in the world ranking by winning his three group matches.

This is a high-value tournament for the players. It’s like a grand final and when you look at the list of champions, there have been many number 1s.

Auger-Aliassime

Auger-Aliassime, seeded number eight, won with partials of 6-4, 7-6 (4), joining Jannik Sinner in the classification of the Bjorn Borg group. Previously, Sinner completed a sweep in his round-robin matches by defeating Ben Shelton, already eliminated, with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (3). Sinner will face Alex de Minaur, seventh seed, in the next round. The final will be played on Sunday.

Zverev, seeded number three, and Auger-Aliassime knew that the winner would advance to the semifinals. Auger-Aliassime seemed to handle the nerves better than Zverev, especially in the second set, although he wasted three set points in the first, before securing the set on his fourth attempt. Zverev couldn’t convert any of his four break point opportunities and made 18 of his 27 unforced errors in the second set, during which he gestured repeatedly towards his team, apparently frustrated. He sent an easy shot into the net, giving Auger-Aliassime two match points. The Canadian only needed one, as Zverev sent a forehand long. It will be Auger-Aliassime’s first appearance in the semi-finals of the season-ending event for the top eight players.

It feels incredible. I always believed I could be in these moments, that I could win these types of matches, but you still have to come and do it.

Auger-Aliassime

Sinner, impeccable. After seeing Alcaraz lift the trophy for the number 1 player shortly before his match, Sinner showed that he was still the man to beat in Turin.

Cheered on by a noisy local fanbase, the defending champion completed a flawless group stage. Sinner hasn’t lost a set, nor a service game, all week. The Italian also didn’t lose a set in his five matches last year en route to the title.