Can Auger-Aliassime stop Sinner from defending his US Open title in the semifinals?

Auger-Aliassime holds a 2-1 lead over Jannik Sinner in their ATP matchups.

Their latest meeting in Cincinnati ended with Sinner sweeping Auger-Aliassime 6-0, 6-2.

In Madrid 2024, Sinner withdrew before their scheduled match, so it’s not included in their head-to-head stats.

In 2022, they clashed twice with Auger-Aliassime winning both times. At that point, Sinner’s game was still maturing and his new coaching team was recently assembled.

If Auger-Aliassime wants to stop Sinner from defending his US Open title, he will need both courage and unwavering belief. He is currently regaining both qualities. However, most believe courage alone is what will get him onto the court.

As the ATP world number one, Sinner enters the US Open semifinals riding a 26-match winning streak on hard courts in Grand Slams, advancing steadily with sharp and precise shots.

Nonetheless, Auger-Aliassime has found his form again, reaching a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time since 2021 thanks to three surprising victories.

So far, the Canadian’s explosive playing style has been key to his progress, but against Sinner, patience will be just as crucial as power. Despite the tough challenge, Auger-Aliassime appears quite composed.

“Talking about strengths and weaknesses... Sinner doesn’t have many advantages, right? There are quite a few flaws in his game,” Auger-Aliassime joked. “How to describe Sinner’s style? Obviously, sometimes he’s unbeatable... Honestly, for the next match, I won’t focus too much on my opponent, but rather concentrate on myself.

“I need to play great tennis and, regardless of tactics, I must perform better than I did today. For the next two days and beyond, I have to maintain a high level — there’s no other way.”

This statement carries a hint of self-mockery and resignation. Two weeks ago in Cincinnati, Auger-Aliassime only won two games.

What has boosted Auger-Aliassime’s confidence are two tough wins on his path to the semifinals. He came back after four sets to defeat the No. 3 seed Zverev and the No. 8 seed Deminor.

Even while hitting 51 winners against Deminor, Auger-Aliassime committed 50 unforced errors. His fearless hitting style makes him dangerous, but facing Sinner, who punishes mistakes with precision, the Canadian top player knows he must not give away free points.

Despite leading 2-1 in their ATP head-to-head, Auger-Aliassime is well aware that last month’s Cincinnati quarterfinal was a comfortable win for Sinner, who dropped only two games. Yet, the Italian player acknowledges the conditions in New York will be very different.

Sinner admitted:

“The situation will be completely different because conditions here are unlike anywhere else. He’s gained confidence from some big wins. I think anything is possible. For me, I stay focused on myself and am very happy to reach another Grand Slam semifinal.

“I believe he’s improved a lot. Even within a week, players can make huge adjustments, and I feel he has done that. This match will be tough for both of us and definitely different from before — after all, it’s a Grand Slam, and the atmosphere and everything else are unique. This duel will certainly be interesting.”

Auger-Aliassime started this season strongly, winning titles in Adelaide and Montpellier in the first two months and reaching the Dubai final, but a mid-season slump dented his confidence. However, in New York, he has regained form and resilience, climbing 8 spots to No. 10 in the PIF ATP Turin Finals live rankings, aiming to qualify for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2022.

In 2022, he set his career-best record with 60 wins and 4 titles. The Auger-Aliassime reaching the New York semifinals in 2025 has a 34-18 tour record and has already claimed 2 titles this year.

In contrast, Sinner has shown incredible consistency. Although pushed to the limit by Shapovalov in the third round — losing the first set and getting broken — he otherwise cruised through to his fifth consecutive Grand Slam semifinal. This season, he has won the Australian Open and Wimbledon, reached the French Open final, and now needs just two more wins to become the fourth man in the Open Era to claim three Grand Slam titles and one runner-up in a single season.

Meanwhile, to maintain the world No. 1 ranking for a 66th consecutive week, Sinner must outperform Carlos Alcaraz, who will face Djokovic in the first semifinal on Friday.

For Auger-Aliassime, the moment is about seizing the opportunity and proving his comeback is no fluke. When fearless ambition meets unwavering precision, only one can earn the ticket to Sunday’s final in this match against Sinner. Based on what people know about Auger-Aliassime, this is undoubtedly a huge test for him.

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