TORINO | Félix Auger-Aliassime will have his destiny in his hands, Thursday around 8 a.m., when he will face the American Taylor Fritz in the last match of the group stage of the ATP Finals.
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The Quebecer got a helping hand from one of his pet peeves, Norway’s Casper Ruud, on Tuesday, who beat Fritz 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (6) in an evening game in Torino.
To access the four of aces, Félix will now have to overcome the American, eighth favorite of the competition. Both athletes claim a record of one win and one loss.
Auger-Aliassime has only faced him once since the start of his career: it was at the ATP Cup, at the start of the year, and Fritz got away with a narrow victory, in three sets.
Auger-Aliassime, seeded fifth at the Pala Alpitour, can only finish higher than second in his group. This means that if he reaches the semi-finals, he will face the player who will point to the top of the “red pool”.
Ruud, first qualifier
Fallout of the Quebecois Sunday in two sets, Ruud became the first participant to obtain his ticket for the semi-finals. A feat of arms that the third favorite had also succeeded last year, bowing to the Russian Daniil Medvedev.
Ruud’s victory also eliminated Spaniard Rafael Nadal, the other member of the “green” group, who has suffered two losses in as many games since the start of the event bringing together the eight best racquets of the season.
And this performance by the 23-year-old Norwegian had an even greater domino effect: it ensures Carlos Alcaraz, 19, to end the year in first place in the world, making him the youngest player in history. to accomplish this feat.
1er rank is a thing of the past
The Spaniard, winner at the US Open, is absent in Italy due to an abdominal injury.
Nadal could still aspire to a return to the top step of the podium, but for that, the 36-year-old champion absolutely had to reach the final.
Shortly after his defeat against Auger-Aliassime, earlier yesterday, “Rafa” already suspected very well that it would be his compatriot who would obtain the honor.
“I’m happy for Carlos,” he said. It’s a great feat, well deserved after his great season. »
” [Terminer l’année au premier rang] would have been an incredible accomplishment at this stage of my career. But it’s no longer a goal I’m trying to achieve, added “Rafa”. My body and my age don’t allow it anymore. »