Auger-Aliassime Advances in Paris, Boosting ATP Finals Prospects

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada marked a significant victory in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters 2025. This win revitalized his hopes of qualifying for the prestigious ATP Finals. Competing in Nanterre, France, Auger-Aliassime faced off against Argentine qualifier Francisco Comesana. After losing the first set, he rallied to secure the match with a score of 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-3.

Auger-Aliassime’s ATP Finals Prospects

With this win, Auger-Aliassime moved closer to qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin. He now trails eighth-place competitor Lorenzo Musetti by just 440 points. The top eight players in the ATP Race To Turin will earn a spot in the season-ending event in Italy.

Recent Performance

The 25-year-old Canadian had previously claimed victory at an ATP 250 event in Belgium nine days ago. However, he potentially missed out on additional points after withdrawing from a quarterfinal match in Basel due to a sore back. Auger-Aliassime, seeded ninth in the Paris Masters, is set to play French player Alexandre Muller in his next match.

Other Notable Matches

• Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo triumphed over Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, winning 6-3, 6-4.
• Denis Shapovalov from Richmond Hill faced a tough match against Joao Fonseca, losing 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

Diallo’s victory marked his first win against Griekspoor after two earlier defeats this year. The six-foot-eight player, now ranked 42nd globally, will face sixth seed Alex de Minaur in the next round.

Conversely, Shapovalov encountered difficulties, recording nine aces but also nine double faults against Fonseca, who recently won the tournament in Basel and became the third-youngest ATP 500 event champion at 19 years old.

Canadian Success in Hong Kong Open

In other tennis news, Canadians Victoria Mboko and Leylah Fernandez progressed to the second round of the Hong Kong Open. Mboko, the third seed, came back after losing the first set to defeat Talia Gibson of Australia 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-4.

• Mboko showcased her powerful serve with 19 aces and converted four out of five break points.
• She will next face either Katie Boulter or Alexandra Eala.

Fernandez, ranked second in the tournament, had a commanding performance against Wang Xiyu of China, winning 6-1, 6-4. She is set to meet Germany’s Eva Lys in the next round.