Félix Auger-Aliassime got here into Turin as a revived pressure: assured after a U.S. Open semifinal run, taking part in a few of the cleanest tennis of his season and surging on the planet rankings.
However on Saturday evening his sizzling type wasn’t sufficient.
The world No. 1 defeated him in semifinals of the Nitto ATP Finals 6-2, 6-4 in simply over an hour and 20 minutes.
The victory booked Alcaraz’s place within the remaining, establishing a hotly anticipated showdown towards Jannik Sinner, the world No. 2 and his archrival.
“I felt like I may do the whole lot on courtroom … like the whole lot was going to be in,” the world No. 1 stated on courtroom after the match.
Coming into the semifinal, expectations closely favoured towards Alcaraz. He had dropped just one set all week.
However Auger-Aliassime, too, arrived with momentum, having overwhelmed world No. 3 Alexander Zverev the evening earlier than.
Virtually instantly, Alcaraz’s shot weight put the Montrealer underneath stress. In Auger-Aliassime’s very first service sport, the Spaniard created two break factors. He managed to fend them off, solely to be damaged on his subsequent serve to go down 1-3.
The next sport, Auger-Aliassime created a possibility to interrupt again, however missed it with an unforced error. Two extra errors, regardless of controlling the rallies, allowed the Spaniard to carry.
Alcaraz clinched the primary set 6-2, with the Canadian discovering it tough to remain within the rallies with out leaking an error.
However into the second set, the Montrealer’s improved first-serve placement eased a few of the stress.
At 1-2, 40-0, nevertheless, two unforced forehand errors that will have sealed the sport, adopted by a double fault, piled the stress on. He held his nerve. On the second deuce, a backhand cross-court–forehand volley combo gave him the benefit. A deep forehand then compelled the error and secured the sport. 2-2.
However Alcaraz maintained the cost. At 4-4, Alcaraz breezed by way of his service sport, which he received to like, in what was one among his quickest video games of the night.
Serving to remain within the match, Auger-Aliassime then went down 15-40 to provide Alcaraz two match factors.
An ace adopted — one match level saved.
An unforced error by the Montrealer then handed the Spaniard the match.
Too many unforced errors proved pricey for Auger-Aliassime. He made 19 in whole, which was almost double that of Alcaraz.
The win sends Alcaraz into the ultimate and units up a remaining many anticipated initially of the event.
The Spaniard is already sure to complete the season as world No. 1, however the showdown towards Sinner, who can also be a pal, will nonetheless carry weight as they battle for end-of-season glory.
Regardless of the loss for Auger-Aliassime, the season ends with him taking part in — and ranked — among the many greatest on the planet.
From No. 29 final January, Auger-Aliassime will transfer inside the highest 5 on Monday, which is a profession excessive for him.
And it’s not solely a yr of tennis milestones.
He additionally ends the season as a married man.
Write to Harry North at hnorth@postmedia.com
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