Auger-Aliassime overcomes ‘weird start’ to beat Shelton

Felix Auger-Aliassime put a “weird start” aside to beat Ben Shelton and register his first victory of this year’s ATP Finals.

Canada’s Auger-Aliassime came back from a mixed first set to beat the big-serving American 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-5 in Turin.

The 25-year-old was increasingly impressive on serve and showed no signs of the calf problem that hampered him in his opening group-match loss to Jannik Sinner.

Eighth seed Auger-Aliassime’s victory means Italy’s Sinner will qualify for the semi-finals if he beats Alexander Zverev later on Wednesday.

Auger-Aliassime quickly found himself 4-1 down in the first set, with Shelton putting the serve and volley to good use, but he broke back as his opponent served for the set.

However, a poor service game handed the initiative – and the opener – to fifth seed Shelton.

Shelton had the only break point of the second set but an increasingly confident Auger-Aliassime saved it, before clinching the tie-breaker on a wild double fault from Shelton.

A tight third set was also decided on the Shelton serve, with Auger-Aliassime converting his third match point.

“He was playing much better than me at the start,” Auger-Aliassime said.

In the doubles, British pair Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski beat Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara to move within touching distance of the semi-finals.