Felix Auger Aliassime claimed the European Open title for a second time when he defeated Jiri Lehecka in a grueling final in Brussels after winning it in 2022 when it was played in Antwerp before being transferred to Belgium.
The 25-year-old from Montreal, who recently got married, outlasted his Czech challenger 7-6(2) 6-7(6) 6-2 and with that victory has increased his possible chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals next month by rising to ninth position, one place and 330 points behind Lorenzo Musetti, who occupies the last qualifying spot.
The Canadian failed to convert two championship points in the second set tiebreaker, but eventually regrouped to dominate the decider for his third title of the season and his first as a married man.
“It’s the final, so we put everything on the line. I feel like we were both extremely focused from the start,” Auger-Aliassime said. “It was a high level for two sets, so you don’t know how things could go… But of course I’m happy.”
In a serve-dominated final, Auger-Aliassime was able to rely on his trademark first-serve strength and solid basic strokes to regroup in the deciding set, finishing the match with 17 aces after saving all three break points he faced.
“I have so much respect for him as a person, as a player,” Auger-Aliassime said of Lehecka. “He’s a great guy. Since he’s been on Tour we’ve been getting along really well, so all credit to him and his team, they’re doing a fantastic job.”
Auger Aliassime, with eight career titles to his name, is tied with Milos Raonic as the pair are now tied for the most Open Era trophies won on the tour in Canadian terms.
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