Félix Auger-Aliassime put up a valiant effort but was unable to overcome Jannik Sinner in the US Open semifinals, falling to the world’s top player 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
It was the second time in his career that Auger-Aliassime had reached the US Open semis.
Despite the loss, the Canadian will leap to No. 13 in the ATP rankings on Monday.
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The world No. 1 began the match with the same dominance he displayed through the tournament, facing little resistance from Auger-Aliassime to take a 3-0 lead in the first set. Auger-Aliassime was consistently able to place powerful forehands deep, but time after time, Sinner was able to neutralize the Canadian’s aggressiveness. The Italian finished off a near-flawless first set on serve to take it 6-1.
Auger-Aliassime squandered a glorious opportunity to take control of the second set after earning a triple break point with the chance to go up 2-0, but Sinner fought back to eventually hold his serve. Despite the setback, the Montrealer had a much better second set thanks to finding his service game.
He was able to win his first four service games, conceding just one point across those service games. The 25-year-old would make no mistake on his second triple-break point of the set, breaking Sinner for the first time in the match to go up 5-3. With a chance to serve out the set, Auger-Aliassime would make a statement and hold at love to take the second set and send the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium to their feet.
Sinner took a brief medical timeout between the second and third sets, but the ailment did not appear to affect him after his return.
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Auger-Aliassime continued his strong play in the third set, going shot-for-shot with the top player in the world until his third service game of the set. Facing a double-break point, the Canadian appeared to misread Sinner’s return, allowing it to sail over his head and drop onto the baseline, where he was unable to return it, conceding the break to Sinner. From that point on, the reigning US Open champion would quickly close out the set 6-3.
Like the second set, Auger-Aliassime held serve to begin the fourth and earned a double break point with a chance to go up 2-0. Unfortunately for the Canadian, Sinner was once again able to fight back and keep things on serve.
Auger-Aliassime missed plenty of chances to put Sinner on his heels, converting just one of 12 break points in the match, including another three missed opportunities while up 2-1 in the fourth set. Sinner would not make the same mistake, capitalizing on his first break opportunity of the next game to take a 3-2 lead and full control of the set. Auger-Aliassime would win his next service game, but the Italian would not budge another inch, breaking Auger-Aliassime for the second time in the set and fourth time overall to take the match.
Sinner will now advance to take on Carlos Alcaraz in a Grand Slam final for the third time this season. Alcaraz won their battle at Roland-Garros, while Sinner returned fire with a win at Wimbledon. The world No. 1 has now reached the final at all four Grand Slams this season, including a win over Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open in January.
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Photo Credit: Martin Sidorjak
