Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime narrowly missed out on claiming the Paris Masters title on Sunday. The 25-year-old from Montreal faced a 6-4, 7-6 (4) defeat against Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the men’s singles final. Despite showcasing eight aces and only two double faults, Auger-Aliassime struggled to secure a break-point opportunity during the match.
Auger-Aliassime, seeded ninth, was vying to secure the final spot at the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, Italy by winning the tournament. However, his quest for the spot remains uncertain as he competes with Lorenzo Musetti for the coveted position. Musetti must clinch a victory in an upcoming tournament in Athens to surpass Auger-Aliassime and qualify for the elite event in his home country. Meanwhile, Auger-Aliassime is set to participate in another ATP 250 tournament in Metz, France, where he will be the top seed.
The participation of Novak Djokovic in the finals is also in question, given his recent focus on major tournaments. Djokovic, who skipped the finals last year, is currently competing in Athens. If Djokovic decides to withdraw, both Auger-Aliassime and Musetti would secure spots in the finals. The final qualifier for the event will be determined during the draw scheduled for Thursday.
In a notable achievement, Sinner reclaimed the No. 1 ranking in men’s tennis following his victory. The 24-year-old secured his fifth title of the year by defeating Auger-Aliassime, marking his third consecutive win against the Canadian and leading their head-to-head record 3-2.
Reflecting on the match, Sinner acknowledged Auger-Aliassime’s strong serving performance and emphasized the importance of capitalizing on opportunities. Despite Auger-Aliassime’s higher number of aces, Sinner’s exceptional first-serve points at 91% compared to Auger-Aliassime’s 81% proved decisive in the match outcome.
Additionally, in women’s doubles action at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Sunday, Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe secured a victory over Russia’s Diana Shnaider and Mirra Andreeva with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (2). The third-seeded pair showcased a strong performance, breaking on three of their eight opportunities and winning 76% of their first-serve points. Shnaider and Andreeva, on the other hand, faced challenges with six double faults and managed to break just once on four chances, ultimately winning 75% of their first-serve points.