Felix Auger-Aliassime completed a remarkable group-stage turnaround at the Nitto ATP Finals on friday night, defeating two-time champion Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6(4) in a straight shootout. The victory, achieved in two hours and seven minutes in Turin, allowed the Canadian to finish second behind Jannik Sinner in the Bjorn Borg Group and secure his first-ever spot in the semifinals of the season-ending championship.
The must-win match was a nerve-wracking affair, with both players struggling for consistency at times, sharing 55 unforced errors. Auger-Aliassime, however, handled the pressure better, particularly on his serve, saving break points in the first set before striking late. He clinched the opening set on his fourth set point in the 10th game after a stunning cross-court forehand.
Zverev, who frequently showed frustration and failed to convert any of his four break points in the match, was left ruing his inconsistency, particularly in a messy second set.
The Canadian maintained his composure in the second set tie-break, securing consecutive mini-breaks via Zverev errors to seal the victory. This win marks Auger-Aliassime’s 50th tour-level win of the season and completes a clean sweep against Zverev in 2025, having also defeated the German at the US Open.
Auger-Aliassime's reward for his group stage turnaround is a semifinal clash against World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz on Saturday. Alcaraz secured the top spot in the Jimmy Connors Group after claiming the year-end World No. 1 ranking on Thursday. The Canadian acknowledged the high stakes of the matchup: “This is a high-value tournament for players... You want to be in the final but I’ll have to go through a great player to do that. I will take my chance if I have it.”
The other semifinal will feature defending champion Jannik Sinner, who maintained his 100% record by defeating the already-eliminated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(3) earlier on Friday, against Alex de Minaur. Auger-Aliassime's breakthrough has established the four semifinalists, setting the stage for the final two matches before Sunday’s final. As for Zverev, the two-time champion was left disappointed, finishing the year with a stark points gulf separating him from the top two players.
