Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime secures a spot in the final of the Paris Masters tennis tournament by defeating Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in straight sets on Saturday. Montreal’s Auger-Aliassime emerged victorious with a score of 7-6 (3), 6-4 in the semifinals against the 13th-seeded Bublik.
In the upcoming final on Sunday, the Canadian will be up against Italy’s Jannik Sinner, who dominated Germany’s Alexander Zverev with a resounding 6-0, 6-1 win in the later semifinal, moving closer to reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking.
Having a head-to-head record of 2-2, Auger-Aliassime and Sinner have engaged in competitive matches in the past, with Sinner winning the last two encounters, including the semifinal clash at this year’s U.S. Open.
With this semifinal victory, Auger-Aliassime surpassed Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti to secure the eighth and final qualification spot for the ATP Finals next month in Turin, Italy. Despite the outcome of Sunday’s match, Auger-Aliassime is set to lead by a 90-point margin over Musetti heading into the Moselle Open in Metz, France next week, while Musetti is scheduled to compete in Athens.
This year, Auger-Aliassime has clinched titles in Adelaide, Montpellier, and Brussels. The 25-year-old is now aiming for his ninth career title and his first at the Masters level.
Auger-Aliassime, seeded ninth in Paris, defeated Bublik in a 96-minute battle on Saturday, expressing excitement about reaching the Masters 1000 final and aiming for the title.
In the match, Auger-Aliassime made a strong comeback from a 4-1 deficit in the second set, showcasing his skills with 31 winners, including 17 from his forehand side, and converting three out of four break points he earned.
Bublik, despite a strong start in the second set, struggled towards the end, losing five consecutive games and displaying frustration by smashing his racket on the ground. Auger-Aliassime sealed the match by starting the final game with an ace, eventually claiming victory with a powerful forehand shot, acknowledging the crowd’s support with gratitude.
Reflecting on his performance, Auger-Aliassime expressed confidence in his abilities against top players but emphasized the importance of executing his game plan effectively.