The under the radar ATP player who is quietly having a better start to 2025 than Carlos Alcaraz

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Carlos Alcaraz has enjoyed a solid start to his 2025 campaign, winning 11 of his 13 matches.

Appearing for the first time this year at the Australian Open, the Spaniard was searching for his maiden title down under.

It wasn’t to be, however, as Alcaraz lost to Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, having fallen to defeat at the same stage one year earlier.

He bounced back quickly in the Netherlands, as Alcaraz won the Rotterdam Open, beating Alex de Minaur in the final, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Traveling to the Middle East, the Spaniard suffered a shock defeat in his quarter-final match as Jiri Lehecka beat Alcaraz in three sets, knocking him out of the Qatar Open.

The 21-year-old will head to the United States for the two Masters 1000 tournaments at Indian Wells and the Miami Open next, as he looks to get his 2025 campaign back on track.

Having won a title, and reached two further quarter-finals already this year, Alcaraz will no doubt be pleased with his efforts, although one surprising ATP star may be quietly enjoying a better season.

Felix Auger-Aliassime set to jump Carlos Alcaraz in the ‘Race to Turin’ after latest win in Dubai

Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime has impressed so far in 2025, most recently beating Marin Cilic to advance to the semi-finals in Dubai.

Just as he did in his previous two matches, the 24-year-old prevailed in three sets, as he now looks ahead to a last four encounter with Quentin Halys.

• 1R – Beat Alexander Bublik, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3
• 2R – Beat Nuno Borges, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
• 3R – Beat Marin Cilic, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

With his win over Cilic at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Auger-Aliassime jumped another place in the ‘Live Race to Turin’ rankings.

As it stands, the Canadian would comfortably qualify for November’s ATP Finals, although there is plenty of tennis left to be played before all is said and done.

Auger-Aliassime now leads Alcaraz by five points in the live rankings, although that gap could widen, should the Canadian continue to pick up wins this week in the UAE.

The former world number six struggled at the Australian Open in January, as he lost in the second round to Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 1-6, 3-6.

At the ATP 250 and ATP 500 level, Auger-Aliassime has been prolific, however, picking up several titles, winning more matches than any other player in men’s tennis.

Felix Auger-Aliassime leads the ATP Tour in 2025 match wins

Auger-Aliassime’s win over Cilic in Dubai saw the Canadian extend his lead out in front as the ATP star with the most match wins in 2025.

He’s also the only player on tour to have won multiple titles, clinching victory in Adelaide, and Montpellier.

Felix Auger-Aliassime’s Adelaide International win

The Canadian star took the trip to Adelaide having not won an ATP title since beating Hubert Hurkacz in the Basel Open final two years earlier.

Refreshed after a strong off-season, Auger-Aliassime was at his brilliant best in January, as he secured a sixth career title.

• F – Beat [2] Sebastian Korda, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
• SF – Beat [1] Tommy Paul, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4
• QF – Beat Marcos Giron, 7-6, 6-3
• 2R – Beat Arthur Cazaux, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5

Felix Auger-Aliassime’s Open Occitanie win

Just one month later, Auger-Aliassime returned to the ATP 250 level for the tournament in Montpellier.

Entering as the number two seed, the 24-year-old showed his class as he won his second title in as many months.

• F – Beat Aleksandar Kovacevic, 6-2, 6-7, 7-6
• SF – Beat Jesper De Jong, 6-4, 7-6
• QF – Beat Yunchaokete Bu, 6-3, 6-4
• 2R – Beat Arthur Cazaux, 6-4, 7-6

Auger-Aliassime will be hoping to win in Dubai this week to add an eighth title to his growing collection.

The Canadian will face off against Halys for a place in the final, on Friday, February 28.