Felix Auger-Aliassime and Arthur Rinderknech will face off for the third time at the Rolex Shanghai Masters this Friday, continuing their rivalry that has unfolded three times in the current season alone. Auger-Aliassime has emerged victorious in their previous encounters, defeating Rinderknech 7-5, 6-3 on the grass courts of Mallorca, and claiming a retirement victory at the Cincinnati Masters when Rinderknech was unable to continue due to the oppressive heat, trailing 7-6(4), 4-2.
The atmosphere in Shanghai has been similarly humid, though luckily for both players, they have managed to adapt to the conditions without suffering from the fatigue that has plagued many of their competitors. Remarkably, they have collectively lost only one set throughout the tournament, avoiding the exhausting matches that have characterized some other contests, including the prolonged battle between Daniil Medvedev and Learner Tien.
Currently ranked 13th in the world, Auger-Aliassime has shown exceptional form lately, with an impressive record of 11 wins and just 2 losses in his last 13 matches. This run includes a quarterfinal finish in Cincinnati and a semifinal appearance at the U.S. Open. In Shanghai, he has secured straightforward victories against Alejandro Tabilo, Jesper de Jong, and Lorenzo Musetti without dropping a single set, a fact that underscores his dominance, especially given the caliber of his opponents.
On the other hand, Rinderknech, sitting at 54th in the rankings, also has a solid recent performance history, reaching the fourth round at the U.S. Open where he fell to the tournament’s eventual champion, Carlos Alcaraz. During this tournament, he has triumphed over Hamad Medjedovic, Alex Michelsen, the former top player Alexander Zverev in a three-set match, and Jiri Lehecka.
Yet, the head-to-head record suggests a challenging matchup for Rinderknech. His strength lies in a potent serve combined with a powerful forehand; however, Auger-Aliassime’s returning ability ranks among the best in tennis today. The Canadian has successfully broken his opponents’ serve nine times across six sets in this tournament, showcasing his returning prowess that could pose significant difficulties for Rinderknech.
Given the form and experience of both players, the prediction leans towards Auger-Aliassime taking the match in straight sets.
