Auger-Aliassime Defeats Zverev, Advances to ATP Finals Semifinals

Félix Auger-Aliassime, the Canadian tennis player, achieved a significant milestone by advancing to the semifinals of the ATP Finals for the first time in his career. He secured victory against Germany’s Alexander Zverev with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (4) during the match held on Friday.

Match Overview

The match was pivotal for Auger-Aliassime, who is 25 years old and hails from Montreal. This victory improved his round-robin record to 2-1, placing him second in the Bjorn Borg Group. He will face Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the semifinal.

Key Highlights

• Auger-Aliassime claimed the only break of the match in the final game of the first set.
• Zverev failed to convert any of his four break-point opportunities.
• The German player made 18 unforced errors in the second set, showing signs of frustration during the match.
• Auger-Aliassime needed just one match point to secure victory as Zverev hit a forehand long.

Player’s Reflection

After the match, Auger-Aliassime commented on his performance, stating, “It was a great first set. He was getting a few chances, but I came up with big serves to save them.” He acknowledged that the match became tense at times but praised his ability to hold serve.

ATP Rankings

This win has propelled Auger-Aliassime to No. 5 in the ATP Live Rankings. He holds a career record of 4-6 against Zverev, having won both of their meetings this year, including one at the U.S. Open.

Zverev’s Performance

Zverev, a two-time ATP Finals champion, ended the tournament with a record of 1-2 and failed to advance. American Ben Shelton also did not progress, finishing with a 0-3 record.

Upcoming Semifinals

In the other semifinal, world No. 2 Jannik Sinner will face Alex de Minaur. Sinner dominated his matches to finish atop his group, defeating Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Auger-Aliassime has faced Alcaraz three times and has a record of 3-4 against him. The Spanish player won their last four encounters. Auger-Aliassime remarked on the value of the tournament, emphasizing the desire to reach the finals.

Previous ATP Finals Experience

This marks Auger-Aliassime’s second participation in the ATP Finals. Last year, he managed a notable upset over Rafael Nadal but did not advance from his group after losing two other matches. Despite early challenges in this year’s competition, he has recovered impressively.