In a dramatic turn of events at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, both Alex de Minaur and Felix Auger-Aliassime saw their aspirations for ATP Finals qualification take a hit as they were ousted in the quarterfinals.
De Minaur faced off against Daniil Medvedev but was unable to overcome the Russian, ultimately falling in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. This defeat was particularly significant for the Australian, who had a chance to elevate his ranking in the race to the Nitto ATP Finals and move as high as fifth. Despite the loss, de Minaur managed to retain his position at seventh in the standings, maintaining a buffer over competitors like Lorenzo Musetti and Casper Ruud, who are also vying for a spot in Turin.
On the other side of the draw, Auger-Aliassime faced Arthur Rinderknech and suffered a similar fate, losing 6-3, 6-4. Currently ranked tenth in the race, the Canadian finds himself in urgent need of strong performances in the remaining tournaments of the season to bolster his chances of qualifying for the prestigious end-of-year competition. A pair of significant wins in Shanghai would have greatly aided in this quest.
“I’m extremely motivated to qualify,” Auger-Aliassime stated before the tournament commenced. “I started the year very strong, but experienced some struggles in the spring. However, I rebounded well during the summer tour in the United States. It’s been a year of ups and downs, but if I can push hard in this final month to secure my berth in Turin, it would be incredible. I know I have to displace some players from contention and will need to play at a high level to achieve that.”
The 25-year-old currently holds the distinction of reaching the semifinals at the U.S. Open earlier this year, which stands as a highlight of his 2025 campaign. In contrast, de Minaur’s season has been characterized by remarkable consistency, marked by a record of 50 wins and 19 losses, along with at least ten quarterfinal appearances across various tournaments.
As the Shanghai Masters progresses, both players will turn their attention to upcoming opportunities, with the stakes rising ever higher in the quest for a coveted spot at the Nitto ATP Finals.
