Felix Auger-Aliassime will chase his first Masters 1000 title in Paris. The 25-year-old showed his indoor skills and arranged the title clash against an in-form Jannik Sinner.
The Canadian faced the first-time Masters 1000 semi-finalist Alexander Bublik in the semi-final and prevailed 7-6, 6-4 in an hour and 36 minutes. With these points, Felix passed Lorenzo Musetti for the last spot that leads to the ATP Finals, looking good to qualify for Turin.
Bublik lost a tight opener before moving in front twotimes in the second set. However, the Canadian kept coming back and rattled off four games from 2-4 to seal the deal in straight sets.
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Auger-Aliassime landed 31 winners and 21 unforced errors. He forged a slight edge from the baseline and at the net to seal the deal. He dominated the mid-range rallies and earned his win in that segment.
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Both players served well in the opener. Alexander survived two deuces on serve in the closing stages and landed an ace at 5-6 to introduce a tie break. They served well in the opening five points before Bublik netted a forehand at 2-3 to fall behind.
Felix landed two winners for 6-3 and welcomed the rival's forehand error on the first set point to bring the first part of the duel home in 50 minutes. The Kazakh stepped in on the return in the second game of the second set and provided a break at love for 2-0.
Auger-Aliassime pulled it back in the next one before losing serve again in game four after the rival's forehand winner. Alexander held in the fifth game and moved 4-1 in front.
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The Canadian kept his composure and pulled the break back in game seven after the opponent's loose drop shot. Felix hit a forehand drive-volley winner for 4-4 and made another push on the return in the next one.
He fired a forehand down the line winner for a break at 15 and the crucial advantage. Auger-Aliassime served for the win at 5-4 and painted a forehand winner on a match point to seal the deal in style and move closer to a spot at the ATP Finals.
