Félix Auger-Aliassime was unable to capture his fourth title of the season, falling to Jannik Sinner in the Paris Masters final 6-4, 7-6 (4).
The Italian blew through the competition en route to his first title at the Paris event, becoming the first player to win a 1000-level title without dropping a set since Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells in 2023.
Sinner retook the world No. 1 rank from Alcaraz with the victory.
Auger-Aliassime made an impressive run to his second 1000-level final and put himself in position to qualify for the ATP Finals. The Canadian now sits in eighth place in the Live Race with a 160-point lead over Lorenzo Musetti. Auger-Aliassime will be competing at the ATP 250 in Metz, while Musetti will compete at the Hellenic Championship in Athens with a spot in the ATP Finals on the line.
Read also: Auger-Aliassime advances to Paris Final
Sinner opened the match by breaking Auger-Aliassime’s serve after the Montreal native committed three unforced errors, and would maintain control for the remainder of the opening set, staying on serve to take it 6-4.
The Canadian began the second set on a much better note, holding off a pair of break points to hold serve. Auger-Aliassime would go blow-for-blow with the new world No. 1, forcing a tiebreak in the second. The 25-year-old would finally blink in the tiebreak, conceding one point on his serve to go down 3-2. It was the only opportunity Sinner would need, as he would go on to take the tiebreak 7-4 to win the match in straight sets.
“It was a very difficult match, he was serving incredibly well, especially from the first break on,” Sinner said of his opponent. “I didn't have many chances. You have to use the small chances you have, and in the breaker, it was just a small mini break, so I’m very happy with how I played there.”
Sinner also defeated Auger-Aliassime in Cincinnati and the US Open this season.
It was the fifth Masters title and 23rd tour-level title of Sinner’s career.
Read also: Auger-Aliassime Ties Raonic Record with Title in Brussels
Photo Credit: Rolex Paris Masters
