Félix Auger-Aliassime secured a spot in the Paris Masters tennis tournament semifinals, boosting his chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals. He clinched a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Valentin Vacherot of Monaco and is set to face 13th-seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the next round.
The win not only propelled Auger-Aliassime closer to Lorenzo Musetti in the race for the final ATP Finals spot but also ended Vacherot’s impressive 10-match winning streak at the ATP 1000 level. Auger-Aliassime, the ninth seed in Paris, displayed exceptional form by winning 89% of first-serve points and saving both break points against him.
Reflecting on the match, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged the challenge Vacherot posed but credited his focus and intensity from the outset for his strong performance. He limited Vacherot to just 6-of-39 on return points and capitalized on key opportunities to break his opponent four times.
With his eyes set on a ninth career title and his first at the Masters level, Auger-Aliassime will face a familiar opponent in Bublik, against whom he holds a 3-2 record. Meanwhile, on the women’s side, Canadians Victoria Mboko and Leylah Fernandez will clash in the Hong Kong Open semifinals after securing victories in their respective quarterfinal matches. The winner will advance to face either Cristina Bucsa of Spain or Maya Joint of Australia in the next round.
The ATP Finals are scheduled to kick off next month in Turin, Italy, where Auger-Aliassime aims to solidify his place among the top contenders.