One spot in the Nitto ATP Finals semis was up for grabs on Friday, and it all came down to the final round-robin clash between Félix Auger-Aliassime and Alexander Zverev.
To secure his place into the final four in Turin, Auger-Aliassime needed back-to-back wins over the German for the first time – the Canadian did exactly that, beating Zverev 6-4, 7-6(4) to claim the final spot into the semifinals.
Not much separated the players throughout the match. Auger-Aliassime and Zverev each finished with 27 unforced errors while only one winner was the difference between the two, in favour of the world No. 3. Auger-Aliassime converted one of seven break points, but that lone break was all he needed as the world No. 8 didn’t lose serve, taking the over two-hour contest in a second-set tiebreak.
Both players’ big serve was on display early in the match, combining for five aces through the opening four games. At 2-2, 30-all, Zverev powered a forehand winner for the evening’s first break point, but two unreturned serves from Auger-Aliassime quickly gave him the advantage, which he capitalized on.
At 4-4, 30-40, the Canadian No. 1 won six-straight points to turn a break point against into triple set point at 4-5, love-40. Zverev fought off all three, but a fourth opportunity came the Montrealer’s way and he clinched the opener with his tenth winner of the set.
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Auger-Aliassime had a chance to take an early grasp of the second with double break point in the fourth game. Zverev managed to hold and then it was his turn to try to score a break at 2-2, 15-40, however, the Canadian delivered a hold of his own to put the pressure back on the two-time Finals champion.
Zverev saved another break point to force deuce and eventually held after a 15-minute game, levelling the set at 3-3.
Serving to stay alive at 4-5, the German extended his time in Turin for the time being but needed a repeat of that in the twelfth game. At 5-6, 40-30, Zverev went on the attack and hit one of his 25 winners of the night to leave the set up to a tiebreak.
An early mini-break from Auger-Aliassime gave him the ideal start, only for Zverev to later even the tiebreak at 3-3. Coming out of the changeover, the Montrealer dropped the first point but responded with four-straight to seal his 50th win of the year and book his ticket into the final four in Turin.
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Auger-Aliassime also becomes the second Canadian to reach the singles semis of the ATP Finals. Milos Raonic did so in 2016, also in his second appearance at the year-end championships.
The Canadian No. 1 will meet world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals on Saturday. Auger-Aliassime looks to snap a four-match losing skid against the Spaniard.
Feature Photo: ATP Tour
