Match Report
Auger-Aliassime fights off French qualifier Droguet, returns to Montpellier final
Mannarino defeats Damm in three sets
February 07, 2026
@Open Occitanie | TV Sport Events
Felix Auger-Aliassime in action on Saturday in Montpellier.
By ATP Staff
Felix Auger-Aliassime ended the breakout run of French qualifier Titouan Droguet with a finishing flourish Saturday at the Open Occitanie in Montpellier. The top seed and defending champion raised his level in the deciding set to earn a 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 victory in the ATP 250 semi-final.
Auger-Aliasssime is through to his 21st tour-level final and his 13th indoors. Seven of the Canadian’s eight career titles have come indoors, with his 87 match wins in those conditions the most this decade on the ATP Tour.
“I felt that even in the second set, my chance would come,” said the 25-year-old, who held firm against the big-serving Droguet. “It was good that I won the first set. It was giving me time to figure out how to break him. I think I served much better in the third set. I also returned better I think on second-serve return. I was hitting the ball more clean and really striking it well to different targets.”
Droguet, who was playing in his first tour-level semi-final and first match against a Top 10 opponent in the PIF ATP Rankings, forced a third set by stroking a majestic topspin lob at 5/5 in the second-set tie-break and following it up with one of his 14 aces.
But after saving two break points at 1-1 in the third set, Auger-Aliassime rattled off five straight games to run away with the win. He saved all three break points against him in the match, according to Infosys ATP Stats, while converting on three of his 10 break chances.
After beating Frenchmen Arthur Fils and Droguet in succession, Auger-Aliassime will face another home hope in the final: Adrian Mannarino.
“I love it. I like to play like this,” the World No. 8 said of the lively atmosphere against the Frenchmen. “It’s much better to play with such an atmosphere than to play in front of no people, or not have the people engaged in the match. It’s great, for sure.”
The final is set 🙌@felixtennis will face @AdrianMannarino for the Montpellier title.@OpenOccitanie | #OpenOccitanie26 pic.twitter.com/OXeJxim8al
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 7, 2026
Mannarino ended the run of American qualifier Martin Damm with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory. The 37-year-old Frenchman recovered from a slow start to reach his 16th tour-level final and first in France. The oldest finalist in tournament history, Mannarino is up to No. 51 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
“It was a battle,” Mannarino said. “He was putting me under pressure from the first shots. I just had to try my best. I had a small chance in the second set and I made it and it was the same scenario in the third set. It went my way but it was pretty crazy.”
Mannarino is a five-time tour-level champion but is seeking his first title since he won in Sofia in 2023. He will contest his first tour-level final since that week in Sofia on Sunday.
Damm battled through qualifying at the ATP 250 event and then upset Hubert Hurkacz and Roberto Bautista Agut in straight sets. The 22-year-old downed Luca Nardi in the last eight to advance to his first tour-level semi-final. He leaves Montpellier at No. 130 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, up 30 places.
