Trends-US

Auger-Aliassime’s first-round win in Paris keeps ATP Finals hopes alive

Open this photo in gallery:

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada topped Francisco Comesana of Argentina on Day 2 of the Rolex Paris Masters 2025 on Tuesday in Nanterre, France.Julian Finney/Getty Images

Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime kept his chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals alive with a first-round win Tuesday at the Paris Masters tennis tournament.

Auger-Aliassime came back from a set down to beat Argentine qualifier Francisco Comesana 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-3.

In other first-round action, Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo defeated Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4, while Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., fell 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to Joao Fonseca. It was the Brazilian teen’s second straight win over Shapovalov.

Auger-Aliassime’s win moved him to within 440 points of eighth-place Lorenzo Musetti in the ATP Race To Turin standings. The top eight qualify for the season-ending event in Italy.

The 25-year-old won an ATP 250 event in Belgium nine days ago, but he potentially left some points on the table when he retired during a quarterfinal clash in Basel last week with a sore back.

Auger-Aliassime, seeded ninth in Paris, will next meet France’s Alexandre Muller.

Diallo beat Griekspoor the first time. The two met twice earlier this year, with Griekspoor winning in the second round of the French Open and the quarterfinals of a grass tournament in Mallorca.

The six-foot-eight Diallo, who entered Paris ranked 42nd in the world, will next face sixth seed Alex de Minaur of Australia.

Shapovalov had nine aces but also nine double-faults in his loss to Fonseca. The two met last week in Basel, with Shapovalov withdrawing from the quarterfinal match down 3-6, 6-3, 4-1 despite not explicitly showing any signs of injury.

Fonseca, 19, went on to win the tournament and became the third-youngest player to win an ATP 500 event.

Mboko, Fernandez advance in Hong Kong Open singles play

Canada’s Victoria Mboko and Leylah Fernandez are moving on to the Hong Kong Open’s second round in the women’s singles draw.

Mboko, the tournament’s third seed, rallied from one set down to defeat Australia’s Talia Gibson 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-4 in one hour 48 minutes Tuesday.

Open this photo in gallery:

Victoria Mboko of Canada celebrates after winning her match against Talia Gibson of Australia during Day 2 of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open at Victoria Park on Tuesday in Hong Kong.Marcio Rodrigo Machado/Getty Images

The 19-year-old from Toronto, who won the National Bank Open in Montreal in August, struck 19 aces and converted four of five break-point chances in the win.

She’ll face the winner of Tuesday’s first-round matchup between Britain’s Katie Boulter and Alexandra Eala of the Philippines.

The second-seeded Fernandez cruised to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Wang Xiyu of China in her opener.

The 23-year-old from Laval, Que., will take on Germany’s Eva Lys in the second round.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button