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If Félix Auger-Aliassime had been able to accomplish a near-impossible task Sunday in Paris and defeat new No. 1 Jannik Sinner, he would have punched his ticket for the ATP Finals in Turin.

But it was a tough, tough ask.

Auger-Aliassime played pretty well. But Sinner shut down whatever openings the Canadian had, as is his wont. And the 6-4, 7-6 (4) win for the Italian put him back into the No. 1 spot in the rankings on Monday.

ATP Rankings Report – As of Nov. 3, 2025

The US Open match between the two in September had Auger-Aliassime facing a somewhat vulnerable Sinner, who looked a bit compromised physically. And he did manage to win a set in a highly entertaining contest.

And that was light years better than their match just a few weeks before that in the Cincinnati quarterfinals, when Auger-Aliassime won just two games.

Before that – and maybe before Sinner was Sinner, Auger-Aliassime had beaten him twice on clay: in 2024 in Madrid – which, with the altitude, is probably the fastest clay-court surface during the spring swing. And before that, in Cincinnati in 2022, Auger-Aliassime’s best year before coming back to closely match it in 2025.

This one was probably closer to the 2025 US Open than 2025 Cincinnati. But it never truly felt in doubt.

Nice words all around from both.

“It’s huge, honestly. It was such an intense final here; we both knew what’s on the line. He’s in a tough and difficult spot… He was serving incredible well, from the first break on. Didn’t have many chances,” Sinner said. “The past couple of months have been amazing. Trying to work on things, and trying to improve as a player and seeing these kinds of results make me very happy.”

"Je ne peux que tirer mon chapeau face à tous tes progrès depuis qu'on se connaît. On jouait à FIFA quand on avait 16-17 ans et tu es un joueur bien meilleur aujourd'hui, donc félicitations." Félix Auger-Aliassime à Sinner lors de la cérémonie du RPM.

Emilie Hautier | FFT pic.twitter.com/APwpSReget
— Tennis Legend (@TennisLegende) November 2, 2025

Auger-Aliassime remembers when Sinner was just another kid in juniors that he played FIFA with (although they never actually met in the juniors). “Never easy to lose in a final but congrats. You push all the players and myself to improve. And I can only congratulate you for all the improvements since we’ve known each other.”

“He strong everywhere. He serves really well, he does everything well. He’s a bit of a ball machine. So when where’s no wind, and there are no weather conditions to bother him … even on defence he’s balanced,” Auger-Aliassime added during his press conference. “So I think the indoor conditions help him keep that balance throughout a full week.”

Still, he feels he’s closing the gap. Somewhat.

Felix Auger-Aliassime gives us his thoughts on the final, and more specifically on his match-ups against Jannik Sinner, which he feels are getting closer and closer #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/9pYIaQVPk4
— ROLEX PARIS MASTERS (@RolexPMasters) November 2, 2025

The biggest issue for Auger-Aliassime is that his backhand just doesn’t stand up. Sinner hits his backhand harder than his forehand, and he’s dangerous with it. So the minute the pattern goes in that direction, the Canadian has to scramble.

Sinner called Auger-Aliassime “for sure one of the nicest persons on Tour. And if you keep playing like this, you’re going to have some of this (the trophy).”

As for Turin, que será será

For Auger-Aliassime, who rises to No. 8 in the rankings and to No. 8 in the eight-man race for Turin, the season might not be done.

But he will no longer hold his fate in his hands.

Mboko wraps up brilliant 2025 with Hong Kong title

Auger-Aliassime made the decision not to go to Metz, France this week to chase another 250 points, which would guarantee he finishes in the top eight and qualifies for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2022, and the second time overall.

Auger-Aliassime, like his fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov,had been struggling with a knee issue. He retired after the first set of. his quarterfinal match in Basel the previous week.

That’s the injury that set them both back in 2023.

Auger-Aliassime played six matches in Paris, and the first three were grueling three-setters – most notably against Alexandre Muller in the second round.

“I’ve been struggling with a lot of physical issues this week. I’m not going to make the same mistakes I made in the past. My physical condition and health are really my priority, above qualifying,” Auger-Aliassime said during his Paris press conference.

Meanwhile Lorenzo Musetti, who fell behind him after losing his opener in Paris to friend, countryman and namesake Lorenzo Sonego, took a late entry into Athens, Greece at a similar event.

***Musetti will let it fly in Athens, in the hope of qualifying for the ATP Finals in his homeland.***

He hasn’t made a huge run in any tournament since making the Rome and Roland Garros semifinals back to back, even with some very friendly draws. So he’s not in his best form.

Musetti needs to make up 160 points to tie Auger-Aliassime. That means he has to make the final, which would earn him 165 points.

As the No. 2 seed, Musetti has a first-round bye. He then would play the winner between Botic Van de Zandschulp (always dangerous) and Stan Wawrinka.

His quarterfinal match could be No. 5 seed Muller. And his semifinal, perhaps, No. 3 seed Luciano Darderi or perhaps Sebastian Korda.

Final edition of Metz decimated

The Athens event, beyond the withdrawal of favorite son Stefanos Tsitsipas, had its fair share of withdrawals. But it helps that it could count on the presence of Novak Djokovic, whose family has a stake in the event and where his youngest brother Djordje is the tournament director. It’s the former Belgrade tournament, whose move to Greece was announced in early August.

Out are the two Czechs, Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik, who have been running on fumes for awhile. Also out are Karen Khachanov and Joao Fonseca. And a late withdrawal was No. 8 seed Fabian Maroszan.

***The Moselle Open will be played for the final time this year.***

The Metz tournament, sadly, suffered more. Especially considering the circumstances.

The Moselle Open is in its final incarnation after more than 20 years, announced last February amid much finger-pointing. The Stockholm Open will move into those dates.

And given its spot on the calendar, it was a “safety tournament” for players on the bubble for Turin – including Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev, who was eliminated from contention in Paris.

They were the top two seeds.

So two lucky losers will fill those two spots, with both getting first-round byes.

Ugo Humbert, the 2023 champion who promised he’d return for this final edition, also isn’t making the date because of back issues.

Tomas Machac also pulled out, as did Frances Tiafoe (who ended his season awhile ago), Alex Michelsen, Zizou Bergs, Gabriel Diallo and 2024 champion Benjamin Bonzi. And, late in the game, No. 5 seed Tallon Griekspoor.

Finally, a rule change for Turin

The fickleness of this final week, which runs right into the start of the ATP FInals, has finally led the ATP to decide that these last two tournaments will no longer be eligible to count for the race to Turin, as of next season.

That’s how it used to be; the players would play Paris and either head straight to London and the O2, or have a week in between with no tournaments for the festivities.

Combination of reasons…some entry/withdrawal issues in recent years in the week after Paris, the change will provide a ‘cleaner’ finish line in Paris for fans and players, and also allows all qualified players to arrive and prepare in Turin in the same manner.
— Simon Higson (@simonhigson) November 2, 2025

The latter reason probably has much to do with it.

Back in the day in 2012, David Ferrer was busy winning the Paris Masters, while all the others players were out by the quarterfinals or, in Roger Federer’s case, didn’t play at all.

As a result, he wasn’t around for all of the various PR and media initiatives and iconic group pics and such before the start of the tournament. Which made some of the photos the “Gang of Seven” instead of eight.