Auger-Aliassime reaches Turin semifinals
Felix Auger-Aliassime picked quite a moment to play his cleanest match of the week. In a straight shootout for the last semi-final spot, the Canadian took down two-time champion Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6(4), finishing second in the Bjorn Borg Group behind Jannik Sinner and booking a Saturday clash with World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. ATP Tour+2Tennis Tonic+2
This was the payoff for an unlikely group-stage resurrection. Auger-Aliassime started the week by losing his first three sets and teetering on the edge of elimination, only to claw past Ben Shelton in three sets and arrive at Friday still alive. ATP Tour+1 Against Zverev, he saved break points at 3-2 and 5-4 in the first set, then pounced when the German’s level dipped in the 10th game, ripping a forehand winner on his fourth set point. ATP Tour+1
The second set was nervier, with both players leaking errors and Zverev visibly frustrated on a court where he’s lifted the trophy before. But when the tiebreak arrived, Auger-Aliassime’s aggression finally stuck—big serves, heavier forehands, and just enough margin on the backhand.
Auger-Aliassime’s Turin breakthrough
Beyond the scoreline, this semi-final run matters because of where Auger-Aliassime’s season has taken him. He has already collected indoor titles in Brussels and Antwerp-style conditions and now owns 50 wins on the year, plus a Tour-leading tally of indoor victories this decade. ATP Tour+2Wikipedia+2 Turin fits his game: low-bouncing court, time to wind up on the forehand, and just enough reward for brave second serves.
Waiting next is Alcaraz, newly crowned year-end No. 1 after a perfect 3-0 sweep through his group and a demolition of Lorenzo Musetti. ATP Tour+1 Even for a player riding this much confidence, that’s a big step up in pace and imagination. Auger-Aliassime does at least bring memories of past success: he beat Zverev here, handled Shelton in a pressure cooker, and owns wins over top-five opposition indoors this season.
On the other side of the draw, de Minaur’s own emotional turnaround—“A couple of days ago was one of the toughest days of my career,” he admitted after his win over Fritz—adds another human storyline to an already loaded weekend. Tennis.com+1
First Ball Forehand Match Point: If Auger-Aliassime keeps trusting his first-strike tennis, he’s the rare guy who can rush Alcaraz on an indoor court. The question is whether he can sustain that level for long enough rallies, long enough points, and long enough momentum swings.