Turin (Italy), Nov 12 (NationPress) – In an electrifying display of skill and determination, Felix Auger-Aliassime from Canada executed a stunning comeback to overcome Ben Shelton at the ATP Finals on Wednesday. At 25 years old, Auger-Aliassime faced near defeat, being just two points away in a nail-biting second-set tiebreak, yet he persevered to clinch a 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5 victory after an intense two hours and 25 minutes in Turin.

Despite the relentless serve-and-volley tactics from Shelton, Auger-Aliassime maintained his composure, achieving his Tour-leading 20th deciding-set win this season. Reflecting on the match, he remarked, “He was playing much better than me at the start. It’s unusual for me to be broken twice in the first set indoors… It was a peculiar beginning, but as the match progressed, I started finding ways to return the ball effectively. Once we got into rallies, I felt capable of winning more points. You simply have to fight, believe, and play each point the right way.”

This victory boosts Auger-Aliassime's chances of advancing to the semifinals of this prestigious season-ending event for the first time. After losing to defending champion Jannik Sinner in his opening match, he now holds a record of 1-1 in the Bjorn Borg Group and is set to face third seed Alexander Zverev in his final round-robin encounter on Friday.

Concerns regarding Auger-Aliassime’s fitness arose after he experienced an injury scare in his match against Sinner, but he quelled those worries with a fluid performance against Shelton. In a twist, it was Shelton who stumbled during the second-set tiebreak, committing a crucial double fault on set point, inadvertently giving Auger-Aliassime a pathway back into the match.

“I felt fantastic physically. We recuperated well and executed the right strategies,” shared Auger-Aliassime post-victory. “Today I managed to engage in two-and-a-half hours of high-intensity tennis. I have to credit him; his serves were exceptional. When the opponent performs this well, you have to acknowledge that, but also commend myself for staying composed,” he added.

Ranked No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Auger-Aliassime has established himself as a formidable competitor on indoor hard courts, accumulating a remarkable 84 wins in such conditions over the decade, as per the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Once he leveled the score against Shelton, his serve found its rhythm, enabling him to secure a 2-0 advantage in their Lexus ATP Head2Head encounters.

For Shelton, this match will be a missed opportunity as he falls to 0-2 in the Bjorn Borg Group during his debut at the season finale. He squandered five consecutive points from a 6/3 lead in the second-set tiebreak against Zverev previously, and a series of critical unforced errors at pivotal moments against Auger-Aliassime further compounded his struggles.