Paris Masters 2025: Felix Auger-Aliassime outlasts Altmaier, then surges past Bublik to reach the final and seize a Turin lifeline

Felix Auger-Aliassime is turning Paris into his late-season launchpad. After a gritty comeback win over Daniel Altmaier in the Round of 16 on Thursday, the Canadian returned on Saturday to subdue Alexander Bublik 7–6(3), 6–4 and book a place in Sunday’s Rolex Paris Masters final. The result vaults him into the eighth spot in the year-end Race—putting the ATP Finals back within his own control.

How Auger-Aliassime flipped the Altmaier test

Altmaier arrived brimming with confidence after a straight-sets takedown of top-eight seed Casper Ruud, and he carried that form into a fast 3–6 opening set against Auger-Aliassime. From there the Canadian adjusted: heavier first-serve locations, deeper return stances to buy time on Altmaier’s kick, and a higher percentage of first-ball forehands directed into the deuce corner. The payoff was immediate—6–3, 6–2 to close—built on a 20-minute stretch where FAA won repeated back-to-back return games and dialed down his forehand miss rate.

Key details from that match:

• Serve recalibration: more body serves on big points to blunt Altmaier’s backhand chip.

• Rally pattern tweak: earlier backhand line changes to avoid playing exclusively into the German’s cross-court comfort zone.

• Court position: a step closer inside the baseline on neutral balls to finish with short forehands rather than trading from equal depth.

Semifinal statement: tiebreak poise, scoreboard pressure

Against Bublik on Saturday, Auger-Aliassime’s serve protected him through a no-breaks first set before he owned the breaker with a calm one-two punch—wide serve, forehand to the open court. Down 1–4 in the second set, he reeled off five straight games by squeezing Bublik’s second serve (commitment returns inside the baseline) and trusting his cross-court backhand to set up forehand finishes. The closing run featured double-digit aces, 30-plus winners, and a conspicuously low unforced-error count in long exchanges.

What decided it:

• First-strike clarity: FAA won the battle of the +1 ball, especially serving deuce-court wide.

• Return depth: repeated body-line returns on second serve forced shorter replies and mid-court looks.

• Scoreboard composure: no panic at 1–4; he kept patterns intact and let Bublik’s risk curve bend.

What it means for the Race to Turin

Auger-Aliassime’s week has flipped the math. By reaching the Paris final he leapfrogs into the final qualifying position and can clinch a spot outright by lifting the trophy on Sunday. Even without the title, he’s applied maximum pressure on his closest rival, who would then need a deep result next week to reclaim the ticket.

Live picture after the semis:

• Qualified: the season’s top names are locked; seeding still in flux.

• On the bubble: Auger-Aliassime sits eighth; his destiny now hinges primarily on one match—the Paris final.

Sunday’s final: Sinner or Zverev, two very different puzzles

Auger-Aliassime will face Jannik Sinner or Alexander Zverev.

• If it’s Sinner: FAA must deny rhythm early. Expect aggressive second-serve returns into Sinner’s body and a premium on first-ball depth to avoid giving the Italian shoulder-high backhands. Finishing at net off inside-out forehands can shorten points before Sinner’s weight of shot accumulates.

• If it’s Zverev: Protect the backhand corner on longer exchanges and target the ad-court slider on big points. FAA’s success often tracks with how many second-serve points Zverev is forced to play under pressure; step-in returns and occasional chip-charge looks can tilt that ledger.

Either way, indoor conditions at La Défense Arena reward clean contact and disciplined patterns—traits the Canadian has ridden all week.

Altmaier’s week deserves its own headline

Even in defeat, Daniel Altmaier leaves Paris with one of the week’s signature wins and a blueprint that travels: firm first-strike backhands, a biting kick serve to the ad court, and court-position bravery that took time away from higher-ranked opponents. His upset of Ruud and straight-sets efficiency in earlier rounds underline why he’s a dangerous draw when the indoor bounce sits high.

Numbers to watch in the final

• FAA first-serve percentage: 65%+ is the threshold that has unlocked his forehand patterns all week.

• Second-serve return points won: a leading indicator of whether he’s dictating or reacting.

• Rally length distribution: if the share of 0–4-shot points rises, it favors Auger-Aliassime; 5–9-shot pockets even the field; 10+ tilts toward the more consistent baseliners.

The takeaway

Felix Auger-Aliassime arrived in Paris needing a surge; he’s produced one. Beating Altmaier from a set down and Bublik in straight sets has moved him to the brink of both a Masters 1000 title and a season-ending berth. One more disciplined performance on Sunday would turn a strong week into a defining one—and complete a savvy, pressure-proof run through the season’s final Masters.