Match Report
Auger-Aliassime sets Lehecka final in Brussels
Canadian is ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin
October 18, 2025
Belgaimage
Felix Auger-Aliassime advances to his 19th tour-level final on Saturday in Brussels.
By Sam Jacot
Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced to his fourth ATP Tour final of the season on Saturday at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open, where he ended the run of Belgian wild card Raphael Collignon in Brussels.
The Canadian was solid throughout his 7-6(2), 6-4 win and has now earned 40 tour-level victories in 2025. Auger-Aliassime’s best year came in 2022, when he recorded 60 victories and qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals.
Aiming to return to the prestigious year-end event this season, the 25-year-old has boosted his hopes with his run in Brussels. Auger-Aliassime is ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin on 3,070 points, trailing eighth-placed Lorenzo Musetti by 415 points. The Italian currently occupies the final qualification spot.
Auger-Aliassime struck the ball aggressively off both wings to quiet the vocal Belgian crowd and end the Collignon resistance. He will compete for his eighth tour-level crown and third of the season on Sunday.
“I had a great opponent in front of me and he was inspired by playing at home,” said Auger-Aliassime, who won the ATP 250 event when it was held in Antwerp in 2022. “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.”
Auger-Aliassime will meet Jiri Lehecka in the title match. The Czech reached the championship match at the ATP 250 event for the second year running after defeating big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6(3), 7-6(7) in one hour and 32 minutes.
“It is always tough to prepare for these kinds of matches,” Lehecka said when asked about playing Mpetshi Perricard. “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.”
Into his sixth tour-level final and third of the season, Lehecka will aim to capture his third title. The 23-year-old, who has lifted trophies on hard courts in Adelaide and Brisbane, has now won 15 of his past 16 matches against players outside the Top 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
