Montreal’s Félix Auger-Aliassime secured a vital win at the ATP Finals by staging a remarkable comeback to defeat Ben Shelton of the United States with a scoreline of 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5 on Wednesday in Turin, Italy. This victory leveled Auger-Aliassime’s standing at 1-1 in the prestigious year-end men’s tennis championship.
The 25-year-old Canadian entered the match after suffering a 7-5, 6-1 loss to Italy’s Jannik Sinner. Auger-Aliassime faced a tough challenge against the defending champion, especially after appearing to struggle with a leg injury during the game.
Despite facing difficulties against Shelton, Auger-Aliassime managed to turn the tide after being close to defeat in the second-set tiebreak. This win marked the fourth time in his last eight matches that he came back from a set down, enhancing his head-to-head record against Shelton to 2-0.
Reflecting on the match, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged Shelton’s strong start but highlighted his own ability to adapt and find ways to win crucial points as the game progressed. He emphasized the importance of resilience, belief, and focusing on executing each point effectively.
Auger-Aliassime’s proficiency in winning matches that go the distance sets him apart on the ATP Tour. His next challenge will be against Alexander Zverev, with the opportunity to secure a spot in the semifinals with a victory over the German.
On the other hand, Shelton’s defeat against Auger-Aliassime dropped him to a 0-2 record, eliminating his chances of advancing from the group stage. Sinner, who improved to 2-0, secured a spot in the semifinals after defeating Zverev 6-4, 6-3 later on the same day. Zverev’s record now stands at 1-1 in the tournament.
Auger-Aliassime is participating in his second ATP Finals appearance. In a notable upset in 2022, he defeated Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal but fell short in the other two matches, failing to progress beyond the group stage.
During the match, Shelton displayed dominance in the first set but faced setbacks, including a crucial break by Auger-Aliassime. The American’s frustration led to an on-court outburst, resulting in a code violation warning for mishandling his racket. Despite a strong recovery to secure the opening set, Shelton couldn’t maintain his lead, allowing Auger-Aliassime to level the match in the second set and eventually clinch the victory in the decider.