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11/14 16:23 CST Auger-Aliassime beats Zverev to reach ATP Finals semis and
Sinner stays perfect
Auger-Aliassime beats Zverev to reach ATP Finals semis and Sinner stays perfect
TURIN, Italy (AP) --- Felix Auger-Aliassime beat two-time champion Alexander
Zverev and claimed the last spot in the semifinals of the ATP Finals on Friday.
The Canadian's reward? Carlos Alcaraz, who is fresh from claiming the year-end
No. 1 ranking after winning all three of his group matches.
The eighth-seeded Auger-Aliassime won 6-4, 7-6 (4) to join Jannik Sinner in
advancing from the Bjorn Borg group. Earlier, Sinner completed a sweep of his
round-robin matches by dispatching already-eliminated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (3).
Sinner will next face seventh-seeded Alex de Minaur. The final is on Sunday.
Third-seeded Zverev and Auger-Aliassime knew the victor would advance to the
semifinals.
Auger-Aliassime appeared to deal with the nerves better than Zverev, especially
in the second set, although he wasted three set points in the opener, before
taking it on his fourth.
Zverev failed to convert any of his four break point opportunities and made 18
of his 27 unforced errors in the second set, during which he repeatedly
gestured towards his team in apparent frustration.
He sent an easy return into the net to hand Auger-Aliassime two match points.
The Canadian needed only one as Zverev hit a forehand long.
It will be Auger-Aliassime's first appearance in the semifinals of the
season-ending event for the top eight players.
Spotless Sinner After seeing Alcaraz lift the trophy for the No. 1 player shortly before his match, Sinner proved he was still very much the man to beat in Turin. Cheered on by a vocal home crowd, the defending champion completed a spotless group stage. Sinner has not lost a set, or service game, all week. The Italian also didn't drop a set in his five matches last year on his way to the title. ___ AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis |
