Paris Masters 2025: Zverev saves two match points to oust Medvedev; Sinner, Auger-Aliassime and Bublik complete blockbuster semi-finals

Bassyonni

ago 2 months

Paris Masters 2025

The Rolex Paris Masters turned feral on Friday night as Alexander Zverev dragged himself past Daniil Medvedev in a three-set knife fight, saving two match points before stealing a final-set tiebreak. With Jannik Sinner coolly dispatching Ben Shelton, and Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alexander Bublik powering through earlier, Saturday serves up a semifinals slate that blends star wattage with high-stakes ranking math.

Medvedev vs Zverev: momentum swings and a tiebreak escape

For a set and a half, Medvedev looked in total command—absorbing pace, redirecting flat, and walking Zverev into that uncomfortable mid-court no-man’s-land. The defending champion recalibrated with heavier first-serve targets and more backhand line changes, flipping the geometry in set two. The decider became a stress test: Medvedev carved out two match points on return; Zverev erased both with first-strike courage, then edged the breaker with a fearless inside-out forehand and a body-serve the Russian couldn’t negotiate. Final line: 2–6, 6–3, 7–6.

The win matters beyond survival. Zverev’s title defense stays alive, his indoor confidence remains intact, and he earns a shot at Sinner—an opponent who has turned their recent meetings into premium theater.

Sinner cruises, keeps No. 1 pursuit in play

Jannik Sinner solved Shelton’s lefty thunder by shrinking the court: early contact, returns at the laces, and depth that took the American out of first-strike patterns. The Italian’s serve patterns (wide on deuce, body on ad) denied free looks and set up routine holds. With that, Sinner reaches the Sinner vs Zverev semifinal that could tilt the year-end narrative—title hopes here intersect with the finishing positions in the Race.

Felix Auger-Aliassime surges; Bublik breaks through

Felix Auger-Aliassime flattened Valentin Vacherot with economy—short points on serve, bullying forehands into both corners, and just enough net pressure to keep the wildcard guessing. It’s another deep indoor run for the Canadian and a vital haul in the push toward Turin.
Alexander Bublik outlasted Alex de Minaur in a clash of contrasts—variety and first-ball aggression versus attritional precision. Bublik’s serve audacity carried him through the tightest moments and into his first Masters 1000 semifinal.

That sets Auger-Aliassime vs Bublik, a stylistic collision: FAA’s measured first-strike patterns and court coverage against Bublik’s improvisation, drop-shot mischief, and red-line serving.

Saturday’s semifinals — schedule & storylines

Order of play (Singles, Saturday, Nov 1):

Semifinal 1: Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Alexander Bublik — 2:30 p.m. local (CET) / 9:30 a.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. UK (GMT).
Semifinal 2: Jannik Sinner vs Alexander Zverev — not before 5:00 p.m. local (CET) / 12:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. UK (GMT).
(Times subject to slight adjustment; doubles semifinals bookend the singles.)

Keys to Auger-Aliassime vs Bublik

First-serve percentage vs second-serve punishment: FAA’s baseline command requires 65%+ first serves; Bublik’s second serve can be a weapon or a window—watch the double-fault count.
Neutral-ball tolerance: If rallies stretch, FAA’s weight of shot should tell; Bublik will try to avoid that reality with pace changes and surprise net rushes.
Scoreboard pressure: FAA has been cleaner closing sets this week; if Bublik keeps it on serve, tie-break variance becomes his friend.

Keys to Sinner vs Zverev

Backhand patterns: Sinner’s crosscourt backhand into Zverev’s two-hander is elite-on-elite; the Italian’s ability to change line first often decides territory.
Second-serve aggression: Zverev’s improved second serve will be tested by Sinner’s step-in return. If the German holds 55%+ of second-serve points, the match lengthens.
Transition instincts: Sinner’s willingness to finish with short approach patterns has spiked this fall; Zverev’s passing shots must stay precise under dome conditions.

ATP Finals race: who moves the needle?

Sinner & Zverev: Clinched for Turin, but seeding, points, and late-season momentum are live considerations.
Auger-Aliassime: A finalist spot could lock down the remaining path; even a semi win materially strengthens his hand.
Bublik: Breakthrough week already; a final would reframe his 2025 hard-court narrative.

Quick form check

Zverev: Survived the draw’s trickiest matchup; confidence multiplier after saving match points.
Medvedev: Leaves with quality sets but without the indoor title kick he often rides into November.
Auger-Aliassime: Serving numbers trending up; forehand finishing with fewer leaks.
Bublik: High-risk shotmaking calibrated; variety disrupting pace merchants.
Sinner: Businesslike; return depth and first-ball forehands setting a low-unforced-error platform.

What’s next

Semifinals play out Saturday; the Paris Masters final is scheduled for Sunday (not before 3:00 p.m. local / 10:00 a.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. UK). With indoor conditions rewarding clean contact and first-strike clarity, expect razor-thin margins and at least one tiebreak per match. The Continent’s last Masters of the year rarely disappoints; this weekend has the makings of a classic.