Montreal’s Félix Auger-Aliassime picked up an important win on the ATP Finals with a comeback 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5 victory over Ben Shelton of america on Wednesday.
The victory evened Auger-Aliassime’s file at 1-1 on the elite year-end males’s tennis event.
The 25-year-old Canadian got here into the match following a 7-5, 6-1 loss to Italy’s Jannik Sinner. Auger-Aliassime was taking part in a aggressive match towards the defending champion earlier than being slowed by an obvious leg damage.
He additionally struggled at instances towards Shelton and was inside two factors of defeat within the second-set tiebreak.
However he rallied from a set down for the fourth time in his final eight matches and improved his profession file towards Shelton to 2-0.
“He was taking part in a lot better than me in the beginning. It’s not usually that I get damaged twice within the first set indoors,” Auger-Aliassime mentioned. “It was a bizarre begin, however because the match went on I used to be discovering methods to place returns within the court docket.
“As soon as we engaged within the rallies, I felt like I might win extra. You simply must battle, consider, and play the following level the suitable means.”
Auger-Aliassime’s 20 victories in matches which have gone the gap lead the ATP Tour.
He’ll subsequent face Alexander Zverev on Friday, and can advance to the semifinals with a win over the German.
Shelton dropped to 0-2 and won’t advance out of the group stage. He’ll play Sinner in his group-stage finale.
Sinner improved to 2-0 and certified for the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Zverev later Wednesday. Zverev fell to 1-and-1.
Auger-Aliassime is making his second look on the ATP Finals. In 2022, he upset Spanish legend Rafael Nadal, however misplaced his different two matches and did not advance out of his group.
Shelton dominated the primary set and received an early break however a horrible sport from him, when he was serving for the set, noticed Auger-Aliassime break again.
Shelton, taking part in in his first ATP Finals, confirmed his frustration by hitting his racket on the bottom. It flew out of his hand and towards spectators. Nobody was hit, however he acquired a code violation warning.
The American recovered to interrupt straight again and take the opening set.
The second set went with serve and Shelton managed to save lots of three set factors within the tiebreaker however a double fault — shortly after taking a tumble — noticed Auger-Aliassime pull degree.
The Canadian by no means regarded again and, though Shelton managed to fend off two break factors early within the decider, Auger-Aliassime broke him within the remaining sport, sealing the victory on his third match level.
