Felix Auger-Aliassime is on a roll! The Canadian tennis star is heading to the finals in Brussels, marking his 19th tour-level final appearance. This is a significant step in his quest to return to the top of the game.
On Saturday, Auger-Aliassime secured his spot in the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open final. He achieved this by defeating Belgian wild card Raphael Collignon with a score of 7-6(2), 6-4. This victory marks his fourth ATP Tour final of the season.
The match showcased Auger-Aliassime's strong performance, resulting in his 40th tour-level win of 2025. His peak year was in 2022, where he achieved an impressive 60 victories and qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals.
Now, at 25 years old, Auger-Aliassime is aiming to return to this prestigious year-end event. His recent success in Brussels has significantly boosted his chances. He currently holds the ninth position in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, with 3,070 points. He is closely trailing eighth-placed Lorenzo Musetti by 415 points, with Musetti currently holding the final qualification spot.
Auger-Aliassime's aggressive play, particularly his powerful shots from both wings, helped him overcome the support for Collignon. He is now competing for his eighth tour-level title and his third of the season on Sunday.
Auger-Aliassime shared his thoughts, stating, "I had a great opponent in front of me and he was inspired by playing at home. I knew it could be the toughest challenge of the week so far. He has been playing great for the past few weeks and months. It was really fun to play, high intensity. It was a pleasure to be a part of that and this week and we have one more to go tomorrow."
He will face Jiri Lehecka in the final. Lehecka reached the championship match for the second consecutive year at the ATP 250 event after defeating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard with a score of 7-6(3), 7-6(7) in a match that lasted 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Lehecka commented on his match against Mpetshi Perricard, saying, "It is always tough to prepare for these kinds of matches. You have to concentrate 100 per cent each point as you don't know what is coming. He has such a good serve. For me, the most important thing was to stay focused on my service games and wait for the chances."
Lehecka, in his sixth tour-level final and third of the season, is aiming for his third title. The 23-year-old has previously won titles on hard courts in Adelaide and Brisbane, and has an impressive record of 15 wins in his last 16 matches against players outside the Top 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
But here's where it gets interesting... Could this be Auger-Aliassime's comeback season? And what does this mean for the future of Canadian tennis? What are your thoughts on Lehecka's consistency? Share your opinions in the comments below!
