Jannik Sinner delivered a commanding performance against Alexander Zverev, winning 6-0, 6-1 in just over an hour at the Paris Masters on Saturday. This victory propels Sinner into the final, bringing him closer to reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking. Should he triumph over ninth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime on Sunday, Sinner will replace Carlos Alcaraz at the top of the ATP rankings.
Auger-Aliassime reached the final after defeating Alexander Bublik 7-6 (3), 6-4 in his semifinal match at La Défense Arena. The stakes are high for Auger-Aliassime, who needs a win to secure the eighth and final spot for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, Italy.
Impressive Indoor Winning Streak
Sinner’s victory marked his 25th consecutive win indoors, further solidifying his status as a formidable competitor. He previously defeated Zverev in the Vienna final last weekend, extending their head-to-head record to 5-4 in favor of Sinner. The second-seeded player demonstrated his dominance early in the match, racing to a 5-0 lead within 25 minutes.
In the first set, Sinner’s serve was particularly effective, winning 90% of his first-serve points compared to Zverev’s 47%. He capitalized on two of five break points against Zverev’s serve. The second set saw Sinner break Zverev early for a 2-1 lead, while Zverev appeared fatigued, resting with his hands on his knees after the game.
Zverev had fought hard to reach this stage, having saved two match points against Daniil Medvedev in a grueling quarterfinal match on Friday. Despite his efforts, he struggled to find his rhythm against Sinner.
Final Showdown Awaits
As Sinner aims for his fifth title of the year and the 23rd of his career, Auger-Aliassime seeks his fourth title of the season and ninth overall. Their head-to-head record stands at 2-2, with Sinner winning their last two encounters, including a semifinal clash at the US Open earlier this year.
In his semifinal match, Auger-Aliassime faced a challenging opponent in Bublik, who led 4-1 in the second set before losing momentum. Auger-Aliassime’s 12th ace marked the start of his service game as he ultimately secured the match with a powerful forehand winner. Expressing his joy, he waved to the crowd while placing a hand over his heart.
Bublik, the No. 13 seed, made history as the first Kazakh player to reach a Masters semifinal, despite succumbing to Auger-Aliassime for the fourth time in their last six meetings.
The final promises to be an exciting showdown as Sinner and Auger-Aliassime vie for victory at the prestigious Paris Masters.
