Auger-Aliassime reaches Shanghai Masters QF after beating Musetti

SHANGHAI — Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-2 on Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Rolex Shanghai Masters, closing out the match with consecutive aces after one hour and 25 minutes on the outdoor hard courts at Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena.

The 12th-seeded Canadian maintained serve throughout and converted three of six break points to secure the straight-sets victory over the eighth-seeded Italian. Auger-Aliassime finished with six aces and one double fault, winning 76 percent of his first-serve points compared with 59 percent for Musetti, according to match statistics. Musetti served three aces and was unable to mount a late comeback after losing the opening set.

The win evened the head-to-head between Auger-Aliassime and Musetti at four wins apiece and ended Musetti’s two-match run that had included victories at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the Miami Masters earlier this year. Auger-Aliassime, 25, has now beaten Musetti twice this season, previously prevailing in Cincinnati and Mallorca.

Auger-Aliassime’s progression to the last eight continues a return to form following a difficult stretch earlier in the year. He reached the U.S. Open...