Race to Turin tightens as FAA stays alive

Felix Auger-Aliassime stayed in the chase for a spot at next weekend’s ATP season-ender in Turin as he defeated Daniel Altmaier 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday to reach the Paris masters quarter-finals.

The Canadian remained provisional ninth for a spot in the eight-man ATP Finals field which is complicated by the guessing game of whether Novak Djokovic will take his place in the field.

While FAA keeps up the fight, Ben Shelton booked his first appearance at the well-remunerated season wrapup, beating Andrey Rublev 7-6 (6), 6-3 in the Paris third round.    

FAA, who has needed fightbacks in all three of his matches this week, was pleased to still be in year-end contention.

“Three sets all week. It’s been a struggle all week. (It was) just fighting back, I feel like every day. 

“I came in today knowing it might be tough again. Just stay calm, stay patient, and try to find solutions. I tried to dig deep. 

“I know I have solutions within myself, but it’s just about making the right choices and executing right.”

The ninth seed who faces Shanghai champion Valentin Vacherot in the last eight on Friday, added: “I started serving better and better as the match went on. I found a way to pressure him and broke him three times in the rest of the match.”

 FAA can land on eighth qualifying spot to dislodge Lorenzo Musetti if he reaches the Sunday Paris final.

Shelton, the fifth seed, won his 40th match of 2025 as he overcame Rublev. 

As play winds down this week at the La Defense arena, two spots for Turin remain open, with Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, US compatriot Taylor Fritz and Shelton already assured a place in Italy from next Sunday.