Felix Auger-Aliassime is into the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals after a 6-4 7-6(4) win over Alexander Zverev.
The Canadian brought his aggressive game to Turin as he won the winners-take-all match to reach the last four.
Meanwhile, Zverev’s passive game style was his downfall as his season ended with a straight sets defeat.
Next for Auger-Aliassime will be world number one Carlos Alcaraz on Saturday as the Canadian aims to continue his recent sensational form.
It was a tight opening set with both players creating half-chances but yet fending off the other player with some clutch serving.
After saving some opportunities, Auger-Aliassime set up three break points as the Canadian’s slice was causing Zverev.
On the fourth time lucky, Auger-Aliassime broke to claim the opening set as Zverev vented his frustrations to his team.
In the second set both players had break points with Auger-Aliassime looking more threatening on return but it was Zverev’s consistently impressive serve that produced the goods on the big points.
As the set reached its conclusion neither player could produce the clinical breakthrough with efficient serving triumphing.
A second set tiebreak would take place with Auger-Aliassime taking more risks as he won it 7-4 and reached the semi-finals.
Ahead of the semi-finals Auger-Aliassime is looking forward to the semi-final showdown with Alcaraz as he praised his own performance against Zverev, “This is a high-value tournament for players,” Auger-Aliassime told the ATP website.
“It’s like a grand finale and when you have a look at the list of champs there have been many No. 1s. You want to be in the final but I’ll have to go through a great player to do that. I will take my chance if I have it.
“It was a great first set. He was getting a few chances but I came up with big serves to save them. The first set was very solid and the start of the second set was, too. I had a lot of chances.
“When that happens you need to focus on the present but you’re aware of missed opportunities, so the match got a little tense from that moment. But I was able to hold serve and in the tie-break it was tight till the end.”
Alcaraz leads the head-to-head 4-3 heading into Saturday’s showdown.
