The Rolex Paris Masters has reached its thrilling finale at the La Defense Arena, where Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime are set to clash for the title. Both players navigated their way through intense semi-finals, culminating in this highly anticipated showdown.
Felix Auger-Aliassime was the first to secure his place in the final, overcoming Alexander Bublik with a hard-fought 7-6(3), 6-4 victory. This win propelled the Canadian into the eighth position in the Race to Turin, as he aims to capture his second Masters title. “I’m so happy. A Masters 1000 final sounds so good. You don’t play those finals every week,” said the ninth seed, expressing his enthusiasm for the opportunity.
The match was marked by exceptional serving, with both players holding their serves firmly during the first set, resulting in no break points. It wasn’t until the second set that breaks began to emerge. After Bublik initially cracked through to take the lead, Auger-Aliassime retaliated swiftly, breaking back and showcasing his resilience. The Kazakh player, seeded 13th, displayed visible frustration as he smashed his racket, but he managed to rally and establish a 4-1 advantage. However, Auger-Aliassime surged back, winning five consecutive games to seal his spot in the final.
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner delivered a commanding performance against Alexander Zverev, winning decisively with a score of 6-0, 6-1. The second seed had not dropped a set all tournament, and despite Zverev being the defending champion, he struggled due to physical limitations, leaving the court after just 62 minutes of play. “When you drop the physicality like he did, you cannot find the full power on serve,” Sinner noted after the match. He expressed both satisfaction at reaching the final and concern for Zverev, whose remarkable run in recent tournaments was cut short by his physical struggles.
This final holds significant implications, not just for the title but also potentially for the world No.1 ranking. Sinner is chasing his fifth title of the year, while Auger-Aliassime is in pursuit of his fourth for the season and the ninth of his professional career. Reflecting on their previous encounter in the semi-finals of the US Open, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged the challenge that Sinner presents. “He pushes players to be very disciplined tactically and to execute their game almost perfectly to win,” he said.
As both players prepare to take the court, the stakes couldn’t be higher, with the prestige of a Masters 1000 title and the ever-elusive world No.1 ranking on the line. The match promises to be a thrilling display of skill and determination as Sinner and Auger-Aliassime vie for supremacy in one of tennis’s most storied tournaments.
