Stefanos Tsitsipas navigated a tricky second round clash with Felix Auger-Aliassime to advance in the Paris Masters, setting up a massive match with Alexander Zverev that could have major implications for the ATP Finals later this month.
The Greek tennis star downed his Canadian opponent 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), notably saving six of seven break points during the match as well as launching an impressive comeback in the second set to ensure the contest did not go to a third.
After going ahead with the first set, Tsitsipas found himself down 2-5 at one point in the second before saving four set points to take it to a tiebreak, ultimately securing the victory to take his head-to-head record with Auger-Aliassime to 6-3.
The world no.7 will now go up against German superstar Alexander Zverev in the round of 16 for what will be the 13th encounter between the two players.
A win would do wonders for either competitor as they each strive to qualify for the ATP Finals tournament in Turin, which begins on November 11.
Tsitsipas is aiming to become the sixth player confirmed for the event, joining Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner and Andrey Rublev, as he also attempts to book his place there for the fifth year running.
He will have to be wary of Zverev, however, who will equally hope to go deep into the Paris masters and ensure his own qualification at the year-end event of which he is a two-time winner (2018, 2021).
Should he defeat the German star, it will mark Tsitsipas’ 50th tour win of the season, a milestone he will no doubt hope to claim here.
Australia’s Alex De Minaur is also an outside chance of making it to Turin, though he will need to go very deep into the Paris Masters and hope others fall short at the same time.
