Canada’s Auger-Aliassime powers past Musetti to reach Shanghai Masters quarterfinals

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada plays a forehand return to Lorenzo Musetti of Italy during a men's singles match of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

SHANGHAI — Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti on Wednesday.

The 12th-seeded Montreal native closed out the match with consecutive aces after an hour and 25 minutes on the hard court.

The victory evened his career record against Musetti at four wins each and ended the Italian’s two-match run, which included wins at the 2024 Paris Olympics and this year’s Miami Masters.

“(That was) ‘inspired Felix,’ I guess,” Auger-Aliassime said about his tidy performance. “I felt like I was playing fast, but I was seeing the game slow. It’s weird when you get these kinds of nights.

“I’ve been trying to work my way there obviously for a while now, working on this type of game plan, but to execute it live on a match court at this stage against an opponent like this is a different story to practice. I’m very pleased, because to play like this means things are coming along nicely.”

The victory also tightened the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin -- the year-long standings that determine the eight singles players who qualify for November’s season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in Italy. Musetti began the week eighth, with Auger-Aliassime in 10th. The result cut the Canadian’s deficit to 530 points as both chase one of the final spots.

Auger-Aliassime, 25, will face France’s Arthur Rinderknech in the quarters. Rinderknech defeated 15th-seeded Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-6 (5). The Canadian has won both of their previous meetings, earning victories earlier this season in Cincinnati and Mallorca.

Auger-Aliassime finished with six aces to Musetti’s three, committed one double fault and won 76 per cent of his first-serve points compared with 59 per cent for Musetti. He converted three of six break chances and didn’t drop serve.

He’s the last Canadian remaining in Shanghai after Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo fell 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (8) to Belgium’s Zizou Bergs in the Round of 16 on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, seventh-seeded Alex De Minaur of Australia moved on with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Portugal’s Nuno Borges. He will next face 16th-seeded Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Learner Tien 7-6 (6), 6-7 (1), 6-4.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2025.