Auger-Aliassime Defends Montpellier Crown With Dominant Final Victory

Felix Auger-Aliassime cemented his place in Canadian tennis history on Sunday, defeating Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-2 in the final of the Open Occitanie to successfully defend his title in Montpellier. The 25-year-old top seed needed just 78 minutes to dispatch the French veteran at Court Patrice Dominguez, claiming his 21st career ATP title and breaking the long-standing Canadian record for most tour-level singles titles. The victory moves Auger-Aliassime past tennis legends like Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov in the Canadian record books.

The tournament week showcased Auger-Aliassime at his best as he navigated a challenging draw without dropping a set. His campaign began with a statement victory over 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka in the second round, where he prevailed 6-4, 7-6(3). The defending champion then cruised past home favorite Arthur Fils 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals, ruthlessly exploiting the physical and emotional fatigue of the young Frenchman who was competing in his first tournament following a six-month injury layoff. In Saturday's semifinal, Auger-Aliassime showed his mental fortitude by recovering from a second-set collapse to defeat French qualifier Titouan Droguet 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1.

In the final, Mannarino struggled to match the power and precision of Auger-Aliassime's aggressive baseline game. The 36-year-old Frenchman had fought his way to the championship match with a thrilling three-set semifinal victory over American Martin Damm, winning 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. But against the defending champion, Mannarino found few answers as Auger-Aliassime dominated from the baseline and capitalized on key break point opportunities. The Canadian converted three of his six break point chances while never facing a break point himself, showcasing the clinical efficiency that has defined his game in 2026.

This title defense marks Auger-Aliassime's second consecutive triumph in Montpellier and his first successful title defense on the ATP Tour. The victory is particularly significant as it comes early in the 2026 season, providing momentum as the tour heads into the crucial spring hard court swing. Auger-Aliassime's aggressive playing style and improved consistency have made him one of the most dangerous players on indoor hard courts, and this week's performance reinforced his credentials as a top contender for bigger titles throughout the year.

The historic achievement also represents a changing of the guard in Canadian tennis. By surpassing Raonic's previous record of 20 ATP titles, Auger-Aliassime has established himself as Canada's most successful singles player in the professional era. The milestone comes as Canadian tennis continues to flourish on the world stage, with multiple players ranked in the top 50 and competing regularly in the latter stages of major tournaments. For Auger-Aliassime, the record is both a personal triumph and validation of years of hard work following early career struggles with converting finals appearances into titles.

Looking ahead, Auger-Aliassime will carry significant confidence into the upcoming ATP 500 tournaments and beyond. His serve remained a weapon throughout the week, firing 47 aces across five matches, while his return game showed marked improvement from previous seasons. With this momentum and his historic 21st title secured, the Canadian star has positioned himself as one of the favorites for upcoming Masters 1000 events and will be eager to translate this form into deeper runs at Grand Slam tournaments in 2026.