Félix Auger-Aliassime secured a spot in the Paris Masters tennis tournament semifinals, gaining valuable points towards qualifying for the ATP Finals. In a dominant performance, Auger-Aliassime defeated Valentin Vacherot of Monaco 6-2, 6-2 to set up a semifinal clash with 13th-seed Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan.
The victory not only propelled Auger-Aliassime closer to the final berth at the ATP Finals but also showcased his strong form against the previously unbeaten Vacherot, who had a 10-match winning streak at the ATP 1000 level. Auger-Aliassime, seeded ninth in Paris, displayed exceptional first-serve prowess, winning 89% of those points and saving both break points he faced.
Reflecting on the match, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged the challenge posed by Vacherot’s confidence but expressed satisfaction with his focused and intense performance from the outset. By limiting Vacherot to 6-of-39 on return points and breaking him four times, Auger-Aliassime demonstrated his strategic and efficient gameplay.
With aspirations for his ninth career title and a maiden victory at the Masters level, Auger-Aliassime’s next hurdle is the semifinal encounter with Bublik, whom he holds a 3-2 head-to-head record against. Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, Canadians Victoria Mboko and Leylah Fernandez are set to face each other in the Hong Kong Open semifinals after overcoming their quarterfinal opponents with convincing wins. The victor of their clash will advance to meet either Spain’s Cristina Bucsa or Australia’s Maya Joint in the final stages of the tournament.