As Felix Auger-Aliassime closes on a maiden berth on the Nitto ATP Finals, the qualifying situation for the Canadian in Paris this week is easy: Preserve successful.
The 22-year-old has been doing a whole lot of that these days, amassing a 13-match win streaking that he’ll take into his second-round conflict with Swedish qualifier Mikael Ymer on Wednesday. Main Andrey Rublev, Taylor Fritz and Hubert Hurkacz within the battle to assert the final two spots in Turin, Felix is already extremely prone to qualify, however he could make a certainty of it by going deeper within the draw than a minimum of two of his rivals.
4 of the Prime-5 seeds are additionally in motion Wednesday, together with World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and 22-time main champion Rafael Nadal.
Felix, who boasts a 53-24 match report in 2022, has gained 4 titles this season (Rotterdam, Florence, Antwerp, Basel), all of which have come on indoor laborious courts. The Montreal native collected a trio of titles earlier than arriving on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Paris and now the eighth seed appears to proceed his sizzling streak.
“For positive I didn’t anticipate this run [three straight titles],” Felix mentioned. “Day-by-day, issues clicked and I used to be enjoying higher and higher. Hopefully this run retains going.
“I do get pleasure from these courts, enjoying indoors. I get pleasure from Paris. There’s no cause why I shouldn’t be capable of play nicely right here.”
The Canadian, who’s sixth within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Race To Turin, goals to strengthen his possibilities to make his debut on the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals, held from 13-20 November.
Fritz, who’s eighth within the Race, hopes to maintain alive his possibilities of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals for the primary time. The American will tackle dwelling favorite Gilles Simon, who rallied from a set right down to defeat Andy Murray. The Frenchman, who reached a career-high No. 6 in January 2009 and claimed 14 Tour-level titles, is about to bid farewell to his profession this week.
Alcaraz, who holds a season-leading 5 Tour-level titles, begins his quest for his third ATP Masters 1000 crown (Miami & Madrid 2022). The 19-year-old appears to proceed his standout season as he takes on Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in a second-round conflict.
Carlos Alcaraz takes on Yoshihito Nishioka within the second spherical on the Rolex Paris Masters.” />
“For the reason that finish of the US Open, my objective has been to attempt to finish the yr as World No. 1,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I’ve two massive tournaments forward, Paris and Turin. I’m going to attempt to present my finest stage.”
Nadal, who’s competing in his first event since turning into a father, is in search of his first Rolex Paris Masters title. Ought to the 36-year-old be topped champion, he’ll make up floor on countryman Alcaraz within the battle for year-end No. 1 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. The Spaniard will kick off the Wednesday night session in opposition to American Tommy Paul.
“I’m excited to be right here,” Nadal mentioned. “I’m right here to strive my finest. Hopefully I shall be prepared for tomorrow [Wednesday], and I’ll attempt to be aggressive. Let’s have a look at. I’m enthusiastic about it.”
Different intriguing second-round matches Wednesday embody Stefanos Tsitsipas taking up Daniel Evans, whereas 2020 Paris champion Daniil Medvedev meets Australian Alex de Minaur. twelfth seed Cameron Norrie will shut out the night session on Court docket Central in opposition to French qualifier Corentin Moutet.