Match Report
Auger-Aliassime downs two-time champ Zverev, sets Alcaraz SF clash at Nitto ATP Finals
Canadian advances to knockout stages for first time at season finale
November 14, 2025
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Felix Auger-Aliassime in action against Alexander Zverev on Friday in Turin.
By Andy West
Felix Auger-Aliassime completed a barnstorming group-stage turnaround in style on Friday night at the Nitto ATP Finals, where he surged past Alexander Zverev to book a semi-final spot in Turin.
The Canadian overcame two-time Nitto ATP Finals titlist Zverev 6-4, 7-6(4) in a straight shootout to finish second behind Jannik Sinner in Bjorn Borg Group. Auger-Aliassime lost his first three sets of the week to slip towards an early exit at Inalpi Arena, but after notching a comeback victory against Ben Shelton and then dispatching Zverev, he will enter his semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz full of confidence.
Flying into the semis ✈️@felixtennis will face top seed Alcaraz for a place in the showpiece final!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/SlD8R6CNfA
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 14, 2025
“This is a high-value tournament for players,” said Auger-Aliassime, when asked about the Alcaraz clash. “It’s like a grand finale and when you have a look at the list of champions, 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.”
By downing Zverev for his 50th tour-level win of the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Auger-Aliassime became the second Canadian to reach the last four at the Nitto ATP Finals after Milos Raonic in 2016. He also completed a clean sweep against Zverev for 2025, having also prevailed in the pair’s third-round meeting at the US Open, although the German still leads 6-4 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
Against Zverev, Auger-Aliassime withstood pressure from his opponent on serve before striking late in the first set. He saved break points at 30/40 in both the fifth and ninth games and then capitalised on Zverev’s drop of level in the 10th game to clinch the opener: Although the German saved three set points from 4-5, 0/40, Auger-Aliassime produced a stunning cross-court forehand on his fourth opportunity to move ahead.
Watch Felix’s Firework Forehand To Clinch First Set:
In a nerve-wracking encounter, both players struggled for consistency in the second set. Zverev appeared frustrated with his struggles on a court where he lifted the trophy in 2021 and frequently gestured to his team, while Auger-Aliassime was wasteful with his openings on return.
Despite having let slip three break points earlier in the set, however, the Canadian maintained his composure to deliver a rock-solid tie-break showing. From 5/4, he earned consecutive minibreaks via Zverev errors to wrap a two-hour, seven-minute victory.
“It was a great first set. He was getting a few chances but I came up with big serves to save them,” said Auger-Aliassime said, who is up three spots No. 5 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. “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.”
Auger-Aliassime is chasing his fourth ATP Tour trophy of 2025 this week in Turin, having triumphed in Adelaide, Montpellier and Brussels already this season. He has now won a Tour-leading 85 matches indoors this decade, five more than second-placed Sinner on that list.
