Jannik Sinner had to dig deep to get the better of Auger-Aliassime in the second semi-final.
Carlos Alcaraz stayed on track for his sixth Grand Slam title and return to No. 1 in the ATP rankings with a 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2 thrashing of Novak Djokovic in the US Open semi-final at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Friday.
In an absorbing two-hour and 25-minute contest at the Arthur Ashe stadium, the 22-year-old Spaniard avenged defeats to Djokovic at this year's Australian Open and the 2024 Paris Olympics to reach his seventh major final and second in New York.
He will meet defending champion Jannik Sinner, who beat Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the second semi-final.
"It's a great feeling (to be back in the final, after winning the title in 2022). It feels amazing; it means a lot to me. Not the best level of the tournament for me but I served well which was important. I tried to play a physical match and I think I did it," Alcaraz said after the match.
Alcaraz won the opening set in the much anticipated inter-generational clash on Friday afternoon. He flew out of the blocks, breaking the 38-year-old Serb's serve in the opening game.
The second seed proceeded with solid depth and aggression, scoring at crucial moments, to take the set 6-4 in 48 minutes.
Djokovic had rallied from a set down to beat Alcaraz in this year's Australian Open quarter-final and it looked as if he was on course to show the fight that got him victory then when he broke in second game of the second set to go up 2-0.
It was just the second time that Alcaraz dropped his serve at this tournament.
However, the Spaniard, aiming to become just the fifth man in the Open Era to reach seven Grand Slam finals before turning 23 and join an elite group that includes Bjorn Borg, Rafael Nadal, Mats Wilander and Jim Courier, rallied from 0-3 and broke back in the fifth game to get the set back on serve before winning it via the tie-breaker 7-6(4).
The third set was a breeze for Alcaraz. Down 15-30 on Djokovic's serve in the fourth game he broke to go 3-1 up. He then served out a love game in the seventh to go make it 5-2.
Yet to drop a set in the tournament, he effected another break and broke into his golf swing celebration after wrapping up the match.
Sinner survives Auger-Aliassime scare
World number one Sinner entered his semi-final with Auger-Aliassime as the clear favourite and, as expected, extended his unbeaten streak at the hard-court majors to 27 matches.
The top seed, bidding to reach a fifth successive Slam final, having won in Melbourne and Wimbledon this season, needed just 43 minutes to take the first set after breaks in the second and sixth game.
Games went on serve in the second set before Auger-Aliassime, enjoying his best Grand Slam run in four years, held at love in the fifth and seventh game. The Canadian then rattled off three quick points off Sinner's serve to break the Italian in the eighth.
With the crowd behind him, a fired-up Auger-Aliassime, serving for the set, then hit a forehand winner and watched Sinner net a forehand for 30-love.
A sixth ace gave him set point. To the crowd's amazement, he fired a seventh to level the match at one set apiece.
Auger-Aliassime won 12 of the last 13 points!
Immediately, Sinner summoned the physio for an apparent abdominal issue and headed back to the locker room.
Games went on service in third set before Sinner broke in the sixth.
The defending champion consolidated that break with a routine hold to 15, getting the job done by pouncing on an Auger-Aliassime drop and sharply angling a backhand passing shot to make it 5-2.
He then served out the next game at love to take the set 6-3 in 51 minutes.
Sinner had his back against the wall in the fourth set but survived three break chances for the Canadian in the fourth game before effecting a break in fifth to go up 3-2.
He then held easily thereafter to take the set and match in 3 hours and 21 minutes.
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