Auger-Aliassime wins way into Paris Masters final, beats Bublik in semifinal

Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime returns to Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik during a semifinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

PARIS — Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the Paris Masters tennis tournament final with a straight-sets win over Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan on Saturday.

Montreal’s Auger-Aliassime prevailed 7-6 (3), 6-4 in the semifinal over the 13th-seeded Bublik.

The Canadian awaited the winner of a later semifinal between second seed Jannik Sinner of Italy and third seed Alexander Zverev of Germany to know his Sunday opponent.

With the semifinal win, Auger-Aliassime leapfrogged Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti into the eighth and final qualification spot for the ATP finals next month in Turin, Italy.

Regardless of Sunday’s outcome, Auger-Aliassime would take a 90-point lead over Musetti into next week’s Moselle Open in Metz, France. Musetti plays next week in Athens.

Auger-Aliassime is trying for his ninth career title and first at the Masters level. The ninth seed in Paris ousted Bublik in 96 minutes Saturday.

“A Masters 1000 final sounds really good,” Auger-Aliassime said a La Défense Arena. “You don’t play those finals every week. Hopefully, I can go all the way and get the title.”

Auger-Aliassime fought back from a 4-1 deficit in Saturday’s second set. He hit 31 winners in the match, including 17 on his forehand, and converted three of four break points he earned.

“I know what I can do against the best players in the world, but you still have to go and execute,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2025.