TURIN, Italy — Felix Auger-Aliassime secured his place in the semifinals of the ATP Finals by defeating two-time champion Alexander Zverev, marking a significant milestone in his career. The Canadian player triumphed with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (4) in a high-stakes match that determined who would advance from the Bjorn Borg group.
Now, Auger-Aliassime faces the daunting task of taking on Carlos Alcaraz, the newly crowned year-end No. 1, who has been performing exceptionally well by winning all three of his group matches. “This is a high-value tournament for players,” Auger-Aliassime stated. “It’s like a grand finale, and when you look at the list of champions, there have been many No. 1s. You want to be in the final, but I’ll have to go through a great player to do that. I will take my chance if I have it.”
The eighth-seeded Auger-Aliassime joined Jannik Sinner in advancing from his group, while Sinner continued to impress by completing a perfect run of matches after defeating Ben Shelton, who had already been eliminated from contention, with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (3). Sinner, the defending champion, is next slated to face seventh-seeded Alex de Minaur in the semifinals.
In a match that was laden with tension, Auger-Aliassime appeared to handle pressure more adeptly than Zverev, who struggled to convert any of his four break-point chances and was plagued by unforced errors. Despite the nerves, Auger-Aliassime managed to secure the first set after saving set points and took control in the second set, ultimately sealing his victory when Zverev failed to return on match point.
“This feels amazing,” Auger-Aliassime expressed after the win. “I always believed that I could be in these moments, that I could win these types of matches, but you still have to come and do it. Today was high in emotions for both of us… I’m blessed and so, so happy to be in the semifinals.”
With this match, Auger-Aliassime makes his long-awaited entry into the semifinals of the season-ending event, underscoring his growth as a player. The ATP Finals continues to promise thrilling matches, especially with the upcoming semifinal battles showcasing some of the best talents in tennis today.