Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger-Aliassime continue charge towards ATP Finals

Daniil Medvedev and Felix Auger-Aliassime strengthened their bids to qualify for the ATP Finals on Friday with quarterfinal wins at the ATP 500 level.

The Erste Bank Open’s top seed in Vienna, Medvedev dismissed sixth seed Jannik Sinner, 6-4, 6-2. The 26-year-old did not face a break point, firing seven aces past the Italian to set a semifinal meeting with Grigor Dimitrov.

A title run this week would clinch Medvedev’s return to the season finale. In January, he was a set away from lifting his second consecutive major trophy, before Rafael Nadal rallied from two sets down to claim the Australian Open. Medvedev became world No. 1 for the first time on February 28, yet has celebrated just one title thus far in 2022—at the 250 tournament in Los Cabos.

Sinner’s outside hopes of qualifying for Turin took a major hit in defeat. The 21-year-old now trails the man currently occupying the final position—Auger-Aliassime—by 915 points, a deficit that could turn into an insurmountable one this weekend. The Canadian aims to further separate himself from the remaining group of fellow hopefuls this weekend at the Swiss Indoors Basel.

A day after conceding a single game to Miomir Kecmanovic in a performance Auger-Aliassime proclaimed was “the best match I’ve ever played”, the world No. 9 overpowered Alexander Bublik, 6-2, 6-3, with an equally impressive level on the court. Eighty-five minutes later, Auger-Aliassime walked off with 31 winners, 4 unforced errors and an 11th consecutive victory.

The No. 3 seed is chasing his third indoor title in as many weeks, having captured crowns in Florence and Antwerp. He can overtake Andrey Rublev for No. 6 in the race if he pulls off the three-peat.

Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz has other ideas, namely revenge. The US Open champion advanced to line up an exciting Basel semifinal with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over countryman and good friend Pablo Carreño Busta.

In September, Auger-Aliassime spoiled Alcaraz’s debut as No. 1 when he outclassed the Spaniard to win a Davis Cup rubber in Valencia. Alcaraz, who has won five titles this season, has increased his lead over Nadal in the battle for year-end No. 1 to 830 points.

By bowing out, Carreño Busta effectively faces the same ATP Finals fate as Sinner.

Taylor Fritz, who lost his Vienna opener, and Hubert Hurkacz, who was edged out, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), by Borna Coric Friday evening, will start the Paris Masters as the first two alternates in line for Turin.