Auger-Aliassime surges past Zverev in Turin thriller

In the charged confines of Turin's Inalpi Arena, Felix Auger-Aliassime delivered a masterclass in resilience on Friday night, toppling Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6(4) to clinch a semifinal berth at the Nitto ATP Finals. The No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings transformed a precarious group-stage position into momentum, finishing second in the Bjorn Borg Group behind Jannik Sinner after dropping his first three sets of the week. This triumph, his 50th tour-level victory of 2025, highlighted the Canadian's indoor mastery and set the stage for a high-voltage clash with Carlos Alcaraz.

Resilience fuels group-stage turnaround

Auger-Aliassime's path through the Nitto ATP Finals had veered toward early elimination, but a comeback win over Ben Shelton sparked the shift that carried into his duel with Zverev. The two-time champion here pressed aggressively, yet the Canadian's steady baseline play and probing returns neutralized the German's power game on the swift indoor hard courts. Drawing from a season of indoor dominance—now at a tour-leading 85 wins this decade, five clear of Sinner—he absorbed the pressure and built toward a defining surge, his earlier titles in Adelaide, Montpellier, and Brussels underscoring the depth of his surface affinity.

Becoming only the second Canadian to reach the last four since Milos Raonic in 2016, Auger-Aliassime completed a 2025 sweep over Zverev, including their third-round US Open encounter, though the head-to-head stands at 6-4 in the German's favor overall. The victory infused him with the quiet confidence needed for the semifinals, where Alcaraz's explosive all-court style will demand even sharper adaptations. As the arena's lights gleamed off the court, this performance felt like the payoff for months of tactical refinement under enclosed conditions.

Defensive grit claims the opener

Zverev targeted Auger-Aliassime's serve early, generating break points at 30/40 in the fifth and ninth games of the first set, but the Canadian responded with low slices and deep crosscourt replies to hold firm. The German's level wavered in the 10th game, allowing Auger-Aliassime to seize control and reach 5-4, 40-0 for set point. Despite Zverev saving three chances, a blistering crosscourt forehand on the fourth opportunity sealed the set, the crowd's eruption mirroring the momentum swing.

Seizing the moment @felixtennis seals the opening set in sensational fashion.#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/2eQ8vyy2vj

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 14, 2025

Tie-break poise delivers the verdict

The second set tightened into a baseline battle, with inconsistencies plaguing both players on the fast surface—Zverev gesturing frustration to his team after errant shots, while Auger-Aliassime missed three break opportunities of his own. Undeterred, he stepped inside the baseline for aggressive one–two combinations, mixing inside-out forehands to expose Zverev's backhand down-the-line. In the tie-break, leading 5-4, consecutive minibreaks off unforced errors from his opponent wrapped the two-hour, seven-minute contest, leaving the Turin faithful energized for what lies ahead.

This semifinal against Alcaraz promises a tactical chess match, pitting Auger-Aliassime's indoor precision against the Spaniard's versatility, as both chase year-end glory in the season's crescendo.