Felix Auger Aliassime beat Jesper de Jong 6-4 7-6 (7-4) after 2 hours and 2 minutes at the Occitanie Open in Montpellier to reach his first final since he won the ATP 500 in Basel in 2023. He moved into the 17th final of his career.
De Jong saved four break points in the fifth game of the first set to hold serve for 3-2. Auger Aliassime converted his second break point in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead and served out on his first set point.
De Jong broke Auger Aliassime to love in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Auger Aliassime converted his third break back point in the fifth game and held serve at love to draw level to 3-3. Auger Aliassime saved two set points in the tenth game. Auger Aliassime earned a mini-break to take a 3-1 lead. De Jong pulled back on serve for 3-4. Auger Aliassime won three of the next four points including a second mini-break to win the tie-break 7-4.
The Canadian player recorded his 52nd indoor win since the start of the 2022 season. He started the 2025 season with his sixth ATP Tour title in Adelaide. He holds a 9-2 record before Montpellier.
“The second set was very tricky, up and down. I started serving less good and kept him in the match, but in the end I was glad I was able to come back and win in two sets. Not every match is going to be a straight road, so to pull it through in straight sets is a great thing”, said Auger Aliassime.
Auger Aliassime set up a championships match against Aleksandar Kovacevic, who upset Andrey Rublev 7-5 6-4.
Kovacevic broke serve in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. Rublev broke straight back in the seventh game and held serve to love to draw level to 4-4. Kovacevic broke again on his second set point in the 12th game to win the first set 7-5. The second set went on serve until the 12th game when Kovacevic broke serve on his second match point.
“It seems like every day we have the same conversation about me playing the best match I have ever played. My level has definitely been good this week. Andrey is an incredible player. I have been watching him for weeks. Just stepping on the court with someone like this is a privilege”, said Kovacevic.