By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, February 8, 2026
Photo credit: Occitanie Open
Felix Auger-Aliassime is peerless beneath the ceiling.
Today, Auger-Aliassime rose up to become Canadian king in Montpellier.
The top-seeded Auger-Aliassime won the final five points in a row topping Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 7-6(4) to successfully defend his Montpellier title and make majestic history in the process.
It is Auger-Aliassime’s ninth career crown—most by any Canadian man in the Open Era—including his eighth indoor championship. Auger-Aliassime broke the Canadian championship record he shared with former world No. 3 Milos Raonic, who officially retired last month.
The victory vaults Auger-Aliassime, who dropped serve only once in the tournament, to No. 6 in the rankings.
“We’re an individual sport, but there’s a lot of people behind me both here and at home,” Auger-Aliassime said afterward. “I’m not fully French, but I do speak French and I feel really welcome here. Thanks to the crowd here for the support. I always feel it in France and it’s a pleasure for me.”
The 25-year-old Auger-Aliassime leads all ATP players in indoor wins this decade (89) and knocked off three Frenchmen in a row—sixth-seeded Arthur Fils, qualifier Titouan Droguet and Mannarino—becoming the second man to successfully defend Montpellier since Richard Gasquet in 2015-2016.
On this day, Auger-Aliassime, who retired from his Australian Open opener vs. Nuno Borges due to cramping, served 78 percent, cracked 13 aces against 1 double fault and did not face a break point. over his last two matches, Auger-Aliassime hammered 33 aces against only 1 double fault.
In a scorching start, Auger-Aliassime stormed through eight straight points backing up the love break with a shutout hold for 2-0.
Commanding the center of the court, the top-seeded Canadian cracked crosscourt forehands and even banged his backhand down the line. Auger-Aliassime won three of the first six games at love.
Reading the wide serve, Auger-Aliassime rocketed a forehand return crosscourt breaking at 15 to seize the first set bookended by breaks.
The oldest finalist in tournament history, the 37-year-old Mannarino fended off three match points edging compatriot Ugo Humbert in round today.
The 70th-ranked Frenchman stayed in step on serve through the first eight games of the second set.
Showing explosive athleticism, Auger-Aliassime soared for a smash capping another love hold with a bang for a 5-4 lead.
The crafty Mannarino was sliding his lefty serve wide on the ad side displacing the Canadian and creating court space for his forehand down the line. Facing championship point at 4-5, Mannarino crossed Auger-Aliassime up playing to his favored forehand to erase match point, eventually holding to level at 5-all.
Credit Mannarino for successive backhand volley winners, including a sweet high backhand volley angle, that helped him hold to force the tiebreaker.
In the breaker, Mannarino’s slightly mis-hit return created an acute angle that sent Auger-Aliassime scurrying wide. Mannarino flattened a forehand down the line for the mini break and a 3-2 lead. Mannarino slid the wide serve for a 4-2 lead, however that was the veteran Frenchman’s final stand.
Auger-Aliassime carved a running defensive slice that stayed low then he swooped in and fired a forehand pass to get the mini break back at 3-4.
The 2025 US Open semifinalist slashed his 13th ace out wide for a 5-4 lead. Auger-Aliassime won an ensuing 19-shot rally for two more championship points.
Dancing around his backhand, Auger-Aliassime drilled a diagonal forehand, stepped in and slammed a forehand winner down the line to seal a 95-minute triumph.
A joyous Auger-Aliassime jumped high above the court.
The man nicknamed Felix Le Cat erupted in a celebratory scream to punctuate his ninth career championship, including his eight indoor title.
