Photo : ATP Tour
Félix Auger-Aliassime’s red-hot run hit new heights on Friday as he ended a three-year drought at Masters 1000 events, reaching the semifinals for the first time since 2019.
To do so, the Canadian defeated American Frances Tiafoe in straight-sets in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters. Auger-Aliassime had reached the last eight in each of the last four Masters 1000 events, but had fallen in the quarters each time.
His last semifinal at a Masters 1000 event came in Miami in 2019.
At times in the match, all Tiafoe could do was throw up his hands in exasperation as Auger-Aliassime played consistent, high-percentage tennis and have his opponent little opportunity to build any momentum as the Canadian claimed a 6-1, 6-4 victory, his 16th in a row.
It was another Auger-Aliassime masterclass on serve, as he fired eight aces, only lost 12 total points on his own serve and never faced a break point. He returned well creating 14 break points and converting three.
Like his second-round match, Auger-Aliassime wasted no time in taking control of the match. He took advantage of an error-filled opening service game from Tiafoe, firing a backhand return winner up the line to break for a 2-0 lead.
Throughout the first set, the Canadian applied pressure to his opponent’s serve, holding break points in all of Tiafoe’s service games. The American saved two to avoid going down 4-0, but a backhand wide at 4-1 set up the Canadian to serve out the opening set.
Auger-Aliassime took the early lead in the second set when a series of forehand errors from Tiafoe gave away the break in the third game.
It was one of those days where with the way Auger-Aliassime was serving, the match seemed to be decided once the Canadian broke serve. Tiafoe refused to go away, saving six break points in the ensuing service games, including five match points on his serve at 3-5, but when it came time to serve out the match, he slammed the door.
In order to reach his first Masters 1000 final, Auger-Aliassime will have to win a rematch with a player he beat on his way to the Basel title last week, either his finals victim Holger Rune or world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
If the opponent is Alcaraz, it would be their third meeting since the US Open. Auger-Aliassime has won both and holds an 3-0 lead overall in their head-to-head.
