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By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 19, 2025Photo credit score: BNP Paribas Fortis European Open Fb
Redefining aggressive character is a problem for all athletes.
As soon as a fretful finalist, Felix Auger-Aliassime has grown right into a conclusive nearer.
Auger-Aliassime charged by means of 5 of the ultimate six video games conquering Jiri Lehecka 7-6(2), 6-7(6), 6-2 to seize his eighth profession championship right now on the BNP Paribas European Open Brussels.
It’s a historic win for Auger-Aliassime, who’s the primary man in event historical past to win two European Open titles. The 25-year-old Canadian defeated Sebastian Korda within the 2022 ultimate again when the event was staged in Antwerp.
Empowered by his run to the US Open semifinals final month, Auger-Aliassime’s eighth title equals former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic for many ATP championships in Open Period amongst Canadian males.
“It feels nice,” Auger-Aliassime stated. “You understand, it’s a ultimate so each gamers give every thing—you place every thing on the road—so I felt that we have been each extraordinarily targeted from the start.
“Excessive degree for 2 units and then you definitely don’t know the way issues can go, clearly, in a tennis match. I’m glad.”
Having fun with his second 😁👏#BNPPFEuropeanOpen pic.twitter.com/h8t2ZMrvNS
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 19, 2025
It’s been a whirlwind of life-changing moments for Auger-Aliassime, who wed equestrian Nina Ghaibi in a lavish ceremony in Marrakech on September twentieth. That got here after he knocked off three High 10 seeds en path to his second main semifinal in Flushing Meadows. Auger-Aliassme, who’s 15-3 in his final 18 matches, collected his third title of 2025 after successful Montpellier and Adelaide as he continues a push for a spot within the season-ending ATP Finals.
After a depressing 0-8 finals file at the beginning of his profession, Auger-Aliassime has gone 8-3 in his final 11 finals.
Seven of his eight titles have come indoors—Auger-Aliassime has scored an ATP-best 76 indoor victories because the begin of 2020—as his huge serve and flat strikes are much more damaging amid pristine situations.
Closure was sophisticated right now as Lehecka fought off two championship factors within the second-set tiebreaker to pressure this ultimate into a 3rd set.
Former world No. 6 Auger-Aliassime shifted into the next gear within the third set. Auger-Aliassime served 81 % and received 16 of 17 first-serve factors within the decider.
Total, Auger-Aliassime served 83 %, pounded 17 aces in opposition to only one double fault and saved all three break factors he confronted within the fifth sport of the match.
After that tense maintain for a 3-2 lead, Auger-Aliassime was largely answerable for his service video games.
Lehecka bolted a backhand go down the road, knocking the Babolat stick out of the Canadian’s fingers, to carry at 30 and pressure the first-set tiebreaker.
A tricky tiebreak competitor, Auger-Aliassime dominated this breaker.
When Lehecka netted a backhand go, festering frustration gave approach to self-destruction as he wound up and slammed his Wilson racquet off his foot leaving the contorted head dangling off the deal with. That miss put Auger-Aliassime forward 4-0 and he smacked a forehand winner for 5-0.
On his first set level, Auger-Aliassime whipped a serve winner down the T sealing the 55-minute opening set and elevating his tiebreak file to 5-0 on the week.
The 25-year-old Canadian had possibilities to carve out the break in a number of second-set video games.
Lehecka saved a few break factors holding for a 2-1 second-set lead.
Auger-Aliassime threatened serve once more in a tense seventh sport. Lehecka double faulted to face one other break level.
Shaking it off, the Czech cracked a serve winner down the T for deuce, finally holding for 4-3 to shift strain again on Auger-Aliassime’s shoulders.
The US Open semifinalist held at 15 to pressure the second-set tiebreaker and earned the opening mini break to leap out to a 3-0 lead.
When Auger-Aliassime racked his twelfth ace down the T he prolonged his result in 5-2. Lehecka despatched a forehand past the baseline as Auger-Aliassime earned double championship level.
On the primary, Auger-Aliassime sailed a forehand lengthy. The second championship level got here on Lehecka’s serve however the Czech whipped the huge serve to erase it then cranked his eighth ace for set level at 7-6.
Auger-Aliassime framed a forehand deep as Lehecka got here again from the brink of defeat to pressure a ultimate set after two hours of play with no breaks between them after saving three break factors apiece.
Greater than two and 1 / 4 hours into the ultimate, Auger-Aliassime cracked serve for the primary break.
On his second break level, Auger-Aliassime was nicely behind the baseline when he spun a full-stretch backhand go crosscourt {that a} sliding Lehecka couldn’t deal with. The Czech’s volley expired in internet as Auger Aliassime broke for 3-1.
Whipping a pair of aces huge on the deuce facet, Auger-Aliassime backed up the lone break of the day with a robust maintain at 15 for 4-1.
On his third championship level, Auger-Aliassime fired a forehand strke down the road to shut in two hours, 34 minutes.
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