Turin Dreams on the Brink: Auger-Aliassime Climbs Back as Paris Masters Sparks No.1 Chase
28 October 2025
Auger-Aliassime Keeps Turin Dream Alive
In Paris Masters action on Tuesday, Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime battled back to defeat Argentine Francesco Comisania in a three‑set thriller, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, preserving his slim chances to qualify for the Turin finale.
With the win, Auger-Aliassime closes the gap to eighth in the live race to Turin to 440 points and awaits a potential test against Lorenzo Sonego on Wednesday. Notably, he didn’t drop a point on his first serve in the pivotal second set, a detail that didn’t slip by observers who love a zero-on-serve stat as much as a winner line.
The Canadian’s path to Turin remains tight, but this result kept his destiny in his own racquet, as he eyes more momentum against his Italian rival the next day.
Fonseca Stuns in Paris, Extends Rising Trajectory
Brazilian youngster Joao Fonseca confirmed his rapid ascent with a comeback win over Denis Shapovalov, overcoming a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 deficit to advance in Paris in his first appearance at the Masters 1000 event.
Fonseca, who has already grabbed a 500-series title this season, spoke about the weekly mental shift needed to stay competitive at this level, saying, in essence, that a change in mindset can change the match. He now leads their head-to-head 2-0 and is set to face tenth seed Karen Khachanov in the next round, a test befitting a 28th-ranked warrior taking his biggest stage yet.
His performance marks the third youngest Masters 1000 champion in Basel’s 500-point category history and signals a bright ceiling for a player whose season just took off in the right direction.
Title Race Heats Up as Alcaraz and Sinner Battle for No.1
The defending No.1 Carlos Alcaraz continues to lead the year‑end race, but Yannick Sinner remains in striking distance. Sinner would reclaim the top spot if he wins the Paris Masters and Alcaraz halts before the semifinals, a scenario that would deliver fireworks to the season’s close.
Alcaraz needs to reach the semifinals to cement his No.1 position, while Sinner must clinch the title to overpower the Spaniard’s tally. The race, currently dominated by Alcaraz with a sizeable margin in the direct-qualification run to Turin, could still tilt if Sinner captures the trophy and other contenders fail to close the gap.
As of today, the top seed chase remains fluid: Alcaraz sits atop the end-of-year race, with the gap to Sinner narrowing in the live points table. Sinner’s opening match against Zizou Bergs in France starts a crucial campaign to reclaim the crown, with more big results likely to come in the coming days.
Beyond the headline battles, Medvedev, Moutet, and a host of other big names took steps forward, while Norrie’s Paris swing begins with an opener against Bergs—an early indicator that the Masters 1000 season is far from settled.
Punchline time: If tennis were a dating app, this week in Paris would be 'Swipe right' for a shot at Turin, with the headline read: ‘No. 1 on the line, and a ball that keeps showing up to the party.’ And if the ball had a sense of humor, it’d say: ‘Relax, I’m just here for the love of the game—and the free slice of sparkling drama.’
