If the first seven names are known, the 8th and final ticket for the Masters, which will begin on Sunday in Turin, remains to be awarded. Felix Auger-Aliassime and Lorenzo Musetti remain the only two players still in the race and at the dawn of this decisive week, the Canadian virtually holds his ticket. The Italian could, however, snatch his qualification at the last minute, in Athens. A scenario could also send the two men to Turin.
If there was no real suspense, last week in Nanterre on the occasion of the first Rolex-Paris Masters at La Paris La Défense Arena, with the first coronation in the tournament for a Jannik Sinner who had immediately seen a highway in front of him after the elimination of the world number 1 at the time Carlos Alcaraz as soon as he entered the running, the race for the last place for the Masters, for its part, risks keeping in suspense all enthusiasts of tennis this week at the dawn of the event, scheduled in Turin from Sunday. And in particular the fans of Felix Auger-Aliassime and Lorenzo Musetti.
The Canadian and the Italian remain the only two players who can claim this eighth and final ticket for the traditional end-of-season meeting bringing together the eight highest ranked players in the Race. To date, he is the 10th in the world before the Paris tournament but today 8th in the hierarchy which virtually holds this last entry. Finalist in Paris, where he stumbled last Sunday on the last step against Jannik Sinner, again world number 1 and who will defend his title in Turin, Auger-Aliassime is 160 points ahead of his rival, 9th in the ATP ranking and in the Race.
What if Djokovic made Musetti and Auger-Aliassime happy?
“FAA” should have confirmed its qualification this week in Metz, where it was to be the big favorite to succeed Benjamin Bonzi, who had withdrawn. Unfortunately for the Canadian, he was forced to give up and found himself under threat from Musetti who will line up well in Athens. If the Italian reaches the final in Greece, he will be sure to beat the unfortunate finalist from Nanterre to the post this weekend.
Unless Novak Djokovic, announced in Athens during this tournament whose director is none other than the Serbian’s brother and in possession of his ticket for the Masters, decides not to defend his chances in Turin. In this case, he would make both Auger-Aliassime and Musetti happy. In the meantime, the latter will do everything to (at least) reach the final in Athens. While his Canadian rival will pray that his rival at the end of the season stops as quickly as possible.
