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By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, February 8, 2026Photo credit score: Occitanie Open
Felix Auger-Aliassime is peerless beneath the ceiling.
As we speak, Auger-Aliassime rose as much as turn out to be Canadian king in Montpellier.
The highest-seeded Auger-Aliassime received the ultimate 5 factors in a row topping Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 7-6(4) to efficiently defend his Montpellier title and make majestic historical past within the course of.
It’s Auger-Aliassime’s ninth profession crown—most by any Canadian man within the Open Period—together with his eighth indoor championship. Auger-Aliassime broke the Canadian championship document he shared with former world No. 3 Milos Raonic, who formally retired final month.
The victory vaults Auger-Aliassime, who dropped serve solely as soon as within the event, to No. 6 within the rankings.
“We’re a person sport, however there’s lots of people behind me each right here and at house,” Auger-Aliassime mentioned afterward. “I’m not totally French, however I do communicate French and I really feel actually welcome right here. Due to the group right here for the assist. I at all times really feel it in France and it’s a pleasure for me.”
The 25-year-old Auger-Aliassime leads all ATP gamers in indoor wins this decade (89) and knocked off three Frenchmen in a row—sixth-seeded Arthur Fils, qualifier Titouan Droguet and Mannarino—turning into the second man to efficiently defend Montpellier since Richard Gasquet in 2015-2016.
On today, Auger-Aliassime, who retired from his Australian Open opener vs. Nuno Borges as a consequence of cramping, served 78 %, cracked 13 aces towards 1 double fault and didn’t face a break level. over his final two matches, Auger-Aliassime hammered 33 aces towards just one double fault.
In a scorching begin, Auger-Aliassime stormed by way of eight straight factors backing up the love break with a shutout maintain for 2-0.
Commanding the middle of the courtroom, the top-seeded Canadian cracked crosscourt forehands and even banged his backhand down the road. Auger-Aliassime received three of the primary six video games at love.
Studying the huge serve, Auger-Aliassime rocketed a forehand return crosscourt breaking at 15 to grab the primary set bookended by breaks.
The oldest finalist in event historical past, the 37-year-old Mannarino fended off three match factors edging compatriot Ugo Humbert in spherical in the present day.
The Seventieth-ranked Frenchman stayed in step on serve by way of the primary eight video games of the second set.
Displaying explosive athleticism, Auger-Aliassime soared for a smash capping one other love maintain with a bang for a 5-4 lead.
The artful Mannarino was sliding his lefty serve huge on the advert facet displacing the Canadian and creating courtroom area for his forehand down the road. Going through championship level at 4-5, Mannarino crossed Auger-Aliassime up enjoying to his favored forehand to erase match level, ultimately holding to stage at 5-all.
Credit score Mannarino for successive backhand volley winners, together with a candy excessive backhand volley angle, that helped him maintain to pressure the tiebreaker.
Within the breaker, Mannarino’s barely mis-hit return created an acute angle that despatched Auger-Aliassime scurrying huge. Mannarino flattened a forehand down the road for the mini break and a 3-2 lead. Mannarino slid the huge serve for a 4-2 lead, nevertheless that was the veteran Frenchman’s closing stand.
Auger-Aliassime carved a working defensive slice that stayed low then he swooped in and fired a forehand go to get the mini break again at 3-4.
The 2025 US Open semifinalist slashed his thirteenth ace out huge for a 5-4 lead. Auger-Aliassime received an ensuing 19-shot rally for 2 extra championship factors.
Dancing round his backhand, Auger-Aliassime drilled a diagonal forehand, stepped in and slammed a forehand winner down the road to seal a 95-minute triumph.
A joyous Auger-Aliassime jumped excessive above the courtroom.
The person nicknamed Felix Le Cat erupted in a celebratory scream to punctuate his ninth profession championship, together with his eight indoor title.
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