Felix Auger-Aliassime’s run at the ATP Finals came to an end on Saturday after he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals.
The Canadian faced off against Alcaraz after defeating Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev in the group stage.
Unfortunately for fans of the 25-year-old, he was unable to defeat Alcaraz in the semi-finals, losing 2-6, 4-6
However, this loss should not detract from the positive feeling surrounding the Canadian after his stellar end to the 2025 season.
Since September, Auger-Aliassime has reached the semi-finals of the US Open, the final of the Paris Masters, and won the Brussels Open.
If Auger-Aliassime can improve upon this form in 2026, he could challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for tennis’ biggest prizes.
Felix Auger-Aliassime was ‘looking to his box for guidance’
Laura Robson, a former junior Wimbledon champion, reflected on the superb performance of Alcaraz, while noting the apparent exasperation Felix Auger-Aliassime was feeling during the contest.
Speaking on air during Sky Sports’ post-match coverage, Robson said: “Just mind-boggling, the shot-making he can pull off. This is apparently his least favourite surface. I just don’t know how it can get any better than the last hour and 20 minutes.
“We were joking poor old Felix and it did at some points feel like that. He was shrugging his shoulders at his box.
“He was every other change of ends looking to them for some guidance and they didn’t really have much guidance to give him.
“It was impossible to create a game plan against Alcaraz. His pure speed and firepower from the back of the court. His forehand was brutal.”
Former British number one Tim Henman continued the discussion, noting that the Canadian was perhaps ‘a bit shell-shocked’ after losing the first set 2-6.
Henman said: “It was just relentless from the word go. Auger-Aliassime was probably a bit shell-shocked after that first set.
“He did a really good job of holding his serve and staying in touch in that second set, and then suddenly, that last game, a whole host of unforced errors did prove costly.
“But he will be able to reflect on a fantastic tournament, getting through to the semi-finals.”
What happened when Felix Auger-Aliassime qualified for the ATP Finals in 2022?
In 2022, Felix Auger-Aliassime qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time in his career, debuting as the number five seed.
Remarkably, Auger-Aliassime secured his first win at the Finals against top seed Rafael Nadal, defeating the Spaniard 6-3, 6-4.
However, he did not qualify for the semi-final stage after losing to Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz.
Fritz defeated the Canadian 7-6, 6-7, 6-2, while Ruud won 7-6, 6-4.
Ruud would reach the final after defeating Andrey Rublev in the last four. In the final, he lost to Novak Djokovic, who won a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title.
Djokovic would go on to repeat the feat in 2023, shattering Roger Federer’s record.
