Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime came up short in his quest for the Paris Masters title on Sunday. The 25-year-old athlete from Montreal faced a tough 6-4, 7-6 (4) defeat against Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the men’s singles final. Despite serving eight aces and making only two double faults, Auger-Aliassime missed his opportunity to break Sinner’s serve during the match.
Auger-Aliassime, seeded ninth, needed to emerge victorious in the tournament to secure the eighth and final spot for the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy. However, his chances are now uncertain as he competes against Lorenzo Musetti for the last spot. Musetti must win the upcoming tournament in Athens to surpass Auger-Aliassime and qualify for the prestigious event in Italy. Auger-Aliassime is set to participate in another ATP 250 tournament in Metz, France, where he will be the top seed.
Meanwhile, uncertainties loom over Novak Djokovic’s participation in the finals, as he has previously expressed a focus on major tournaments over other events. Djokovic, who skipped the finals last year, is currently competing in Athens.
In a dominating performance, Jannik Sinner claimed victory over Auger-Aliassime, securing his fifth title of the year and regaining the top spot in the men’s tennis rankings. Sinner, aged 24, delivered a commanding performance in the final match, serving six aces. This victory marked his 23rd career title.
Sinner’s win over Auger-Aliassime adds to his record of three consecutive victories against the Canadian player, with a head-to-head score of 3-2. Auger-Aliassime acknowledged Sinner’s exceptional serving skills, admitting his opponent’s superior performance in the match.
In another tennis event on Sunday, Gabriela Dabrowski from Ottawa and Erin Routliffe from New Zealand triumphed in the women’s doubles group stage at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. The duo, seeded third, defeated Russia’s Diana Shnaider and Mirra Andreeva with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (2). Dabrowski and Routliffe showcased a strong performance, breaking their opponents’ serve three times out of eight opportunities and winning 76% of their first-serve points.