By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Photo credit: Facebook Open European
A strained calf jumped Happy Auger-Also in his opener in Turin.
Today, Auger-Aliassime produced a smooth serve, whip and a strong forehand to keep his Turin hopes alive.
Unleashing a series of attacks, Auger-Aliassime broke in the final game to defeat Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5 to even his ATP Finals round-robin record at 1-1 in the Bjorn Borg Group.
In a meditative pose, Auger-Alissime sometimes closes her eyes briefly before turning as if tuning into her inner muse. After winning an explosive battle, Auger-Aliassime erupted in a roar of success as he won his 20th deciding set of the year – and Turin’s first triumph since knocking out Rafa Nadal at the 2022 ATP Finals.
“There’s a lot at stake today; the kind of firepower of the day,” Auger-Aliassime said Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj in his court interview. “Indoors you know what he’s capable of, he’s won tournaments on these types of surfaces. So I knew what to expect, but I was backing myself to stay cool under pressure, stay disciplined and make the right choices.
“When it came down to the final points of each one, I was just trying to make the right play at the right time. Don’t get excited, don’t get excited. If games were going by and I didn’t have a chance, I just sat back, relaxed and focused on getting my serve.”
Auger-Aliassime served 80 percent, outscored Shelton with big serves — 9 to 7 — and won 14 of 19 second-serve points in a tense two-hour, 25-minute test.
World No. 2 Jannik Sinner, who beat Auger-Aliassime in his opening match, can secure a semi-final spot if he beats former two-time champion Alexander Zverev in tonight’s round-robin match. Auger-Aliassime raised his 2025 record to 49-23, including 16-4 indoors.
ATP Finals debutant Shelton fought hard, saved five of seven break points, including four of five in the decider, and came up with several key service and volley-winning points.
Ultimately, Auger-Aliassime played with more determination and purpose in key points. In the end, Shelton inexplicably continued to target the Canadian’s stronger arm and scored a takedown to earn a second match point. Maybe Shelton was trying to open up the field by attacking Auger-Aliassime’s arm to try to get him to protect his weaker arm on the run, but the 6’4” Canadian did a good job of maintaining the baseline, not giving up too much ground, protecting his back arm with slices when he extended and, in addition to his nervy shot and a nerve shot.
It all adds up to a hard-fought victory that keeps Auger-Aliassime’s semi-final hopes alive ahead of his final round match against Zverev. At the US Open in September, Auger-Aliassime knocked off three consecutive top 15s – Zverev, Andrey Rublev and Alex de Minaur – to reach his second Flushing Meadows semi-final, where he fell to Sinner in four sets.
Since the start of August, Auger-Aliassime is 19-3 in tiebreakers and has reached the quarterfinals or better in six consecutive tournaments, including the finals in Brussels and the Rolex Paris Masters. The Canadian credits clarity — and meditation — for his late-season surge.
“Obviously, a lot of breathing, meditation, trying to stay as cool as possible under pressure,” Auger-Aliassime. “And just have a clear mind. You know, I think we’re all human, and I think you seem unclear at times when emotions come in. If you can stay clear with your mind, I think that’s when you play your best.
“I’ve been able to do that sometimes. I don’t always fall, but at least you don’t regret it. If I’m able to do that: keep my game plan clear, continue to execute well, then I’ll leave the courts with no regrets.”
In an imposing server clash, the first set’s service interruptions were largely caused by both men.
Self-sabotage struck the US Open semifinalist in the fourth game. Auger-Aliassime led the 30-love streak when he dished out three straight fouls, including a routine volley at the net from the top of the net. It gave Shelton a break point. The lefties returned to the front line breaking 3-1 with a strong “Come on!”
Shelton rattled off eight straight points to take a 4-1 lead.
Serving for the set, the fifth seed tried to attack – including serving and volleying twice on the second serves – but some poor volley shots put her in a double break point hole. Shelton didn’t do enough with a short burst and Auger-Aliassime went in for the pass coming back in the ninth.
Back on serve in the 10th game, the Canadian squandered his good fortune with a double fault and a forehand wrapped around a Shelton winner. This sequence placed the Auger-Aliassime in a setpoint hole.
Shelton came back with an extended return, recovered and then fired a forehand winner to score his second break to take a one-set lead after 36 minutes.
Although Auger-Aliassime served 80 per cent, Shelton made her play by winning eight of the Canadian’s 20 first-serve points in the opening game.
The server held command throughout the second set until the eighth game. Auger-Aliassime hit a quick volley high, but Shelton ran it down, firing a backhand pass for break point.
Auger-Aliassime hit a big serve down the tee to sweep it and then hammered a forehand winner to save the only break point of the set to set up a 4-all tie.
The barrage wasn’t supposed to be that good 😮💨@BenShelton #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/uGZJL3wC9F
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 12, 2025
Shelton successfully used the serve-and-volley in the second serves to save a shot for 6-5. Auger-Aliassime responded with his second hold at love of the set to force the deciding second-set tiebreaker.
The ATP’s most successful tiebreak player this season, Auger-Aliassime was armed with a 30-14 tiebreaker record as today’s second set goal unfolded.
Shelton scored a volley to give up the instant mini break. Auger-Aliassime hit an ace. The American then crashed to the court landing on his left knee as he struggled to change direction as Auger-Aliassime went up 5-2. Shelton looked desperate for a few points but came back from 4-6 down to save the first set point when his opponent scored a forehand and then saved a second set point on a backhand error.
Looking a little tight, Auger-Aliassime smothered a forehand into the middle of the net on his third set point, but earned a fourth set point when Shelton foreclosed.
We are at level 👀@felixtennis converts a certain 4th point to send us to a decider!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/8aCyNqTNVe
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 12, 2025
Finally, the tension of the tiebreak caught up with the American. Shelton served a second double fault to end the drama as Auger-Aliassime forced a final set after 98 minutes.
In the decider, Shelton raised his serve speed and Auger-Aliassime was almost untouchable on serve winning 24 of 28 service points without facing a single break point.
When Shelton hit a forehand into the net, the Canadian had two break points in the fourth game. Rising back, Shelton fired two damaging serves, including a 146 mph racket, saving break points and eventually holding for 2 all.
Across the net, Auger-Aliassime ran off 12 straight service points, then recovered from love-30 down in the 11th game. Auger-Aliassime leveled a series of forehand errors to hold at 30 for 6-5.
Scoreboard pressure and sketchy shot selection cost Shelton in the 12th. It looked like he was trying to fool his opponent by playing his left hand down the line to Auger-Aliassime’s forehand.
That tactic didn’t work well in the end. Shelton saved the first match point with a gutsy second serve and denied the second match point with a cracking ace.
Challenging the Canadian’s advantage, Shelton paid the price by landing an inside-out takedown for a third match point. In the ensuing rally, Auger-Aliassime seized control with his forehand and did not let go to draw a final forehand break to finish a quality contest in two hours and 25 minutes.
