If someone will derail Jannik Sinner’s title defense at the US Open, this requires equal courage and conviction. A man who both rediscovers both in kicks is his semi-final opponent Felix Auger-Aliases.
The number 1 player in the PIF ATP ranking, Sinner arrives in the last four in New York and runs on an unbeaten run of 26 games at the Hard-Court Majors, after he had used his ruthless ball striking to go through the field with icy precision. Nevertheless, Auger-Aliassime has rediscovered his spark at the last major of the season, merged three upset wins to return to the semi-final at a major for the first time since 2021.
The explosive brand of tennis of the Canadian has so far been the key in his campaign, but against Sinner, Patience will be just as critical as power. Despite the scale of the task, Auger-Aliassime cuts a relaxed figure.
“I mean, strengths and weaknesses … Jannik, not many strengths, hey? Many weaknesses in his game,” joked Auger-Aliassime. “What to say about Jannik’s game? He has sometimes been clearly inviolable … To be honest, I will not really concentrate the next game on my opponent than me.
“I have to play tennis well. I have to play even better than today, regardless of what I want to do. I have to play at a high level in two days and then the next round. There is no other way.”
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The faith of Auger-Aliassime is forged through a test route to the last four. His run included grim comebacks of four set against top 10 stars Alexander Zverev and Alex de Minaur.
Although he hit 51 winners against the Minaur, auger-aliassime leaked 50 casual mistakes. That fearless brand of making shooting has made him dangerous, but against Sinner, who canceled punishments with clinical efficiency, the Canadian No. 1 knows that he cannot afford to give away free points.
Despite the leading of their Lexus ATP Head2head series 2-1, Auger-Aliassime is offered a sobering memory. In their last meeting in the quarterfinals of Cincinnati last month stupid, sinner stupid his way to victory for the loss of only two games, but the Italian is aware of different dynamics in New York.
“It will be completely different, because [the] The circumstances here are different, “admitted sinner.” He had some big wins, so a big boost for him. I feel [anything] Can happen. From my point of view I always try to look at myself, and I am very happy that I am back in the semi -final of a Grand Slam.
“I feel that he has improved a lot. Even in a week you can make big adjustments, and I have the feeling that he has done that. It will be a very, very difficult match for both of us. Absolutely different, because the Grand Slam, the energy and everything will be different. It will be very interesting to see.”
After a hot start of the season with titles in Adelaide and Montpellier before a last run in Dubai during the first two months, the confidence of Auger-Aliassricime faltered through a difficult extinguishing in the middle season. But in New York he found his shape and steel and rose eight places until the 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin while a return to the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time since 2022.
It was in that year that he claimed a career-best 60 wins and four titles, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Auger-Aliass Time arrives the semi-final in New York with a 34-18 record on tour level and two titles in 2025.
Sinner, on the other hand, has been a model of consistency. Although it is pushed to the edge by Denis Shapovalov in the third round collection of a set and a break, the Italian has otherwise sailed in his fifth straight semi-final. With titles in the Australian Open and Wimbledon and a Roland Garros -Final in between, Sinner is now only two victories removed from becoming the fourth man in the open era to claim three Grand Slam titles in a season and reach the championship game in the fourth.
The 20-time champion at tour level also knows that he should better match the result of Carlos Alcaraz if he has the World No. 1-place for a 66th consecutive week wants to hold. The Spaniard is opposed to Novak Djokovic in the first of the semi -final on Friday.
For Auger-Aliassime, the time is to grab the opportunities and prove that his revival was built to last for a long time. Against Sinner, Fearless Ambition meets Onflinching Precision and only one will run away with a place in Sunday’s final.
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