By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 19, 2025Photo credit: BNP Paribas Fortis European Open Facebook
Redefining competitive character is a challenge for all athletes.
Once a fretful finalist, Felix Auger-Aliassime has grown into a conclusive closer.
Auger-Aliassime charged through five of the final six games conquering Jiri Lehecka 7-6(2), 6-7(6), 6-2 to capture his eighth career championship today at the BNP Paribas European Open Brussels.
It’s a historic win for Auger-Aliassime, who is the first man in tournament history to win two European Open titles. The 25-year-old Canadian defeated Sebastian Korda in the 2022 final back when the tournament was staged in Antwerp.
Empowered by his run to the US Open semifinals last month, Auger-Aliassime’s eighth title equals former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic for most ATP championships in Open Era among Canadian men.
“It feels great,” Auger-Aliassime said. “You know, it’s a final so both players give everything—you put everything on the line—so I felt that we were both extremely focused from the beginning.
“High level for two sets and then you don’t know how things can go, obviously, in a tennis match. I’m glad.”
Enjoying his moment 😁👏#BNPPFEuropeanOpen pic.twitter.com/h8t2ZMrvNS
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 19, 2025
It’s been a whirlwind of life-changing moments for Auger-Aliassime, who wed equestrian Nina Ghaibi in a lavish ceremony in Marrakech on September 20th. That came after he knocked off three Top 10 seeds en route to his second major semifinal in Flushing Meadows. Auger-Aliassme, who is 15-3 in his last 18 matches, collected his third title of 2025 after winning Montpellier and Adelaide as he continues a push for a spot in the season-ending ATP Finals.
After a miserable 0-8 finals record at the start of his career, Auger-Aliassime has gone 8-3 in his last 11 finals.
Seven of his eight titles have come indoors—Auger-Aliassime has scored an ATP-best 76 indoor victories since the start of 2020—as his big serve and flat strikes are even more damaging amid pristine conditions.
Closure was complicated today as Lehecka fought off two championship points in the second-set tiebreaker to force this final into a third set.
Former world No. 6 Auger-Aliassime shifted into a higher gear in the third set. Auger-Aliassime served 81 percent and won 16 of 17 first-serve points in the decider.
Overall, Auger-Aliassime served 83 percent, pounded 17 aces against only 1 double fault and saved all three break points he faced in the fifth game of the match.
After that tense hold for a 3-2 lead, Auger-Aliassime was largely in command of his service games.
Lehecka bolted a backhand pass down the line, knocking the Babolat stick out of the Canadian’s hands, to hold at 30 and force the first-set tiebreaker.
A tough tiebreak competitor, Auger-Aliassime dominated this breaker.
When Lehecka netted a backhand pass, festering frustration gave way to self-destruction as he wound up and slammed his Wilson racquet off his foot leaving the contorted head dangling off the handle. That miss put Auger-Aliassime ahead 4-0 and he smacked a forehand winner for 5-0.
On his first set point, Auger-Aliassime whipped a serve winner down the T sealing the 55-minute opening set and raising his tiebreak record to 5-0 on the week.
The 25-year-old Canadian had chances to carve out the break in multiple second-set games.
Lehecka saved a couple of break points holding for a 2-1 second-set lead.
Auger-Aliassime threatened serve again in a tense seventh game. Lehecka double faulted to face another break point.
Shaking it off, the Czech cracked a serve winner down the T for deuce, eventually holding for 4-3 to shift pressure back on Auger-Aliassime’s shoulders.
The US Open semifinalist held at 15 to force the second-set tiebreaker and earned the opening mini break to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
When Auger-Aliassime racked his 12th ace down the T he extended his lead to 5-2. Lehecka sent a forehand beyond the baseline as Auger-Aliassime earned double championship point.
On the first, Auger-Aliassime sailed a forehand long. The second championship point came on Lehecka’s serve but the Czech whipped the wide serve to erase it then cranked his eighth ace for set point at 7-6.
Auger-Aliassime framed a forehand deep as Lehecka came back from the brink of defeat to force a final set after two hours of play with no breaks between them after saving three break points apiece.
More than two and a quarter hours into the final, Auger-Aliassime cracked serve for the first break.
On his second break point, Auger-Aliassime was well behind the baseline when he spun a full-stretch backhand pass crosscourt that a sliding Lehecka could not handle. The Czech’s volley expired in net as Auger Aliassime broke for 3-1.
Whipping a pair of aces wide on the deuce side, Auger-Aliassime backed up the lone break of the day with a strong hold at 15 for 4-1.
On his third championship point, Auger-Aliassime fired a forehand strke down the line to close in two hours, 34 minutes.
