Spaniard's Power Proves Too Much for Resurgent Canadian
World number one Carlos Alcaraz has ended the impressive run of Montreal's Félix Auger-Aliassime at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, securing his place in the championship match with a decisive 6-2, 6-4 victory on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The win sets up a highly anticipated final against the Spaniard's archrival, world number two Jannik Sinner.
A Clash of Titans in Turin
Auger-Aliassime arrived at the semifinal in the best form of his season, revitalized after a strong U.S. Open semifinal appearance and playing what many considered the cleanest tennis of his year. His confidence was high following a significant win over world No. 3 Alexander Zverev just the night before, which had secured his spot in the final four. However, he faced a formidable opponent in Alcaraz, who had been dominant throughout the tournament, dropping only a single set.
From the outset, Alcaraz's powerful shotmaking put the Canadian on the defensive. The pressure told early, with the Spaniard breaking Auger-Aliassime's serve to take a 3-1 lead in the first set. Despite a brief opportunity for the Montrealer to break back, an unforced error cost him the chance, allowing Alcaraz to consolidate his lead and ultimately close out the first set 6-2.
Canadian's Valiant Effort Falls Short
The second set saw a more determined effort from Auger-Aliassime. His first-serve placement improved, helping him weather the storm. At a crucial moment, with the score at 1-2 and 40-0 in his favour, a double fault and two forehand errors threatened to derail his service game. Yet, he demonstrated resilience, fighting through deuce and eventually holding serve with a brilliant backhand cross-court followed by a forehand volley combo, leveling the set at 2-2.
Despite this show of fight, Alcaraz maintained relentless pressure. The top seed continued to dictate play with his aggressive baseline game, eventually breaking serve again and maintaining his lead to seal the match and his ticket to the final.
Silver Linings and a Season of Success
While the loss concludes Auger-Aliassime's campaign in Turin, his 2025 season ends on an extraordinarily high note. He is set to achieve a new career-high ranking inside the world's top five when the new standings are released on Monday. This marks a stunning ascent from his position of No. 29 at the start of the calendar year in January.
Beyond the tennis court, the Canadian also celebrated a personal milestone this season, getting married. For Alcaraz, the victory confirms his year-end finish as the world No. 1, but a final against his friend and rival Sinner offers a chance to cap his remarkable season with the prestigious ATP Finals trophy.
