Auger-Aliassime ends Vacherot run to reach Paris Masters semis / Photo: JULIEN DE ROSA - AFP
Auger-Aliassime ends Vacherot run to reach Paris Masters semis
Felix Auger-Aliassime cruised to a straight-sets victory over Valentin Vacherot on Friday to reach the Paris Masters semi-finals and keep his bid to qualify for the ATP Finals alive.
The Canadian had come from a set down in all three of his previous matches at the La Defense Arena but eased past surprise Shanghai Masters champion Vacherot 6-2, 6-2.
Auger-Aliassime will face either Australian sixth seed Alex de Minaur or Kazakh Alexander Bublik for a place in just the second Masters 1000 final of his career.
He could overhaul Lorenzo Musetti for the eighth and last ATP Finals berth by reaching the final, although Daniil Medvedev and Bublik also remain in the hunt.
Vacherot's remarkable run of 10 successive wins in Masters events came to an end. He won the Shanghai tournament earlier this month as a 204th-ranked qualifier.
The Monegasque is still set to break into the world's top 30 after another impressive performance in Paris as a wildcard.
Auger-Aliassime broke in a marathon opening game and went on to dominate the rest of the first set.
Vacherot appeared to be finding his feet early in the second set, but was broken twice in as many service games and slipped 5-2 behind.
He managed to bring up two break points, his first of the match, in the next game, but Auger-Aliassime saved both before successfully holding to close out victory.
M.Albrecht--VZ
