In a challenging start to the Nitto ATP Finals, Felix Auger-Aliassime faced a setback as he suffered a left calf strain during his first-round robin match against Jannik Sinner in Turin. The eighth-ranked Canadian experienced discomfort while serving at 5-6 in the opening set and ultimately fell to Sinner with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-1.
Despite the injury, Auger-Aliassime remained upbeat about his condition post-match. “It’s not dangerous,” he stated, downplaying the severity of the calf issue. The 25-year-old acknowledged Sinner’s dominant performance, saying, “You have to give credit when the guy is just better than you. Today he was better than me. I’ll get ready for the next one.” He further praised Sinner, noting, “He started off amazing and never looked back, really. From the first point to the last, he was amazing — toughest guy to beat here.”
Looking ahead, Auger-Aliassime is scheduled to compete against Ben Shelton in his upcoming match on Wednesday, assuming he is fit to play. Both players are currently seeking their first win in Group Bjorn Borg after Shelton’s debut earlier in the tournament resulted in a 6-3, 7-6(6) defeat to Alexander Zverev. The Canadian holds a slight edge in their previous encounters, having won their only meeting to date. Sinner, now facing Zverev, boasts a strong head-to-head record against the German, currently leading 5-4 and riding a four-match winning streak against him this season.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Auger-Aliassime’s recovery and performance as he aims to bounce back from this early setback.
