By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 19, 2025
Photo: BNP Paribas Fortis European Open Facebook
Redefining the competitive character is a challenge for all athletes.
Once a restless finalist, Happy Auger-Also has grown to a final close.
Auger-Aliassime went on to win five of its last six games Jiri Lehecka 7-6 (2), 6-7 (6), 6-2 to win his eighth career championship today at the BNP Paribas European Open in Brussels.
It is a historic victory for Auger-Aliassime, who is the first man in the history of the tour to win two European Open titles. The 25-year-old Canadian beat Sebastian Korda in the 2022 final when the tournament took place in Antwerp.
Buoyed by his run to the US Open semifinals last month, Auger-Aliassime’s eighth title ties him with former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic for most ATP Open Era championships among Canadian men.
“It feels good,” Auger-Aliassime said. “You know, it’s a final, so both players give everything – you put everything on the line – so I felt we were both extremely focused from the start.
“High level for two sets and then you don’t know how things can go, obviously, in a tennis match. I’m satisfied.”
Enjoying his moment 😁👏#BNPPFEEuropean Open pic.twitter.com/h8t2ZMrvNS
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 19, 2025
It’s been a whirlwind of life-changing moments for Auger-Aliassime, who married the knight Nina Ghaibi in a lavish ceremony in Marrakech on September 20. That came after he knocked off three top 10 seeds en route to his second major semifinal at Flushing Meadows. Auger-Aliassme, who is 15-3 in his last 18 matches, won his third title of 2025 after wins in Montpellier and Adelaide as he continues his push for a spot at the ATP Finals at the end of the season.
After a dismal 0-8 finals record early in his career, Auger-Aliassime has gone 8-3 in his last 11 finals.
Seven of his eight titles have come indoors—Auger-Aliassime has notched an ATP-best 76 indoor wins since the start of 2020—as his big serve and flat forehands are even more damaging amid pristine conditions.
The close was complicated today as Lehecka fought back with two championship points in the second set tiebreaker to force this final into the 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, hit 17 aces against just 1 double fault and saved all three break points she faced in the fifth game of the match.
After that tense wait for a 3-2 lead, Auger-Aliassime was largely in command of her service games.
Lehecka hit a backhand pass down the line, knocking Babolat’s stick out of the Canadian’s hands, to keep it at 30 and force the first-set tiebreaker.
A tough taebreak competitor, Auger-Aliassime dominated this breaker.
When Lehecka scored a reverse pass, exasperated frustration gave way to self-destruction as he flailed and knocked Wilson’s racket off his leg, leaving his disfigured head hanging from his glove. That miss put Auger-Aliassime up 4-0 and he hit a forehand winner for 5-0.
On his first set point, Auger-Aliassime hit a service winner on T, sealing the 55-minute opening set and extending his tiebreaker record to 5-0 on the week.
The 25-year-old Canadian had chances to break away in several games of the second set.
Lehecka saved several break points, holding a 2-1 lead in the second set.
Auger-Aliassime threatened serve again in a tense seventh game. Lehecka double-faulted to face another break point.
Shaking it off, the Czech hit a service winner down the T for the ball, eventually holding for 4-3 to shift the pressure off Auger-Aliassime’s shoulders.
The US Open semi-finalist held at 15 to force a second-set equalizer and won the opening mini break to take a 3-0 lead.
When Auger-Aliassime hit his 12th ace on the T, he extended his lead to 5-2. Lehecka sent an advantage across the baseline as Auger-Aliassime earned two championship points.
In the first, Auger-Aliassime sailed a long time. The second point of the championship came on Lehecka’s serve, but the Czech hit his serve wide to break it and then hit his eighth ace for set point at 7-6.
Auger-Aliassime hit deep as Lehecka came back from the brink of defeat to force a final set after two hours of non-stop play between them after escaping three break points apiece.
More than two and a quarter hours into the final, Auger-Aliassime broke serve for the first break.
On his second break point, Auger-Aliassime was well behind the baseline when he curled a full pass that a sliding Lehecka couldn’t handle. The Czech’s volley ended up in the net as Auger Aliassime slotted home to make it 3-1.
Hitting a pair of aces wide on the second side, Auger-Aliassime backed up the only break of the day with a strong hold at 15 for 4-1.
In his third point of the championship, Auger-Aliassime fired a forehand down the line to seal it in two hours and 34 minutes.
