In-form Auger-Aliassime dispatches De Jong to reach Montpellier Open final
The Canadian came through 6-4, 7-6 (4) against De Jong. He’ll face either top-seeded Andrey Rublev or American Aleksandar Kovacevic in the final
Felix Auger-Aliassime, Open Sud de France, Montpellier, 2025 © Valentina Claret / Psnewz
Felix Auger-Aliassime continued his 2025 renaissance with an impressive display to reach the final of the Open Sud de France, coming through 6-4, 7-6 (4) against a spirited Jesper De Jong effort in Montpellier.
De Jong, currently ranked 131st in the world, was looking to reach his maiden ATP final having never made a quarter-final on tour prior to his run to the last four in Montpellier this week.
Auger-Aliassime, on the other hand, is into his 17th tour final as he maintains his excellent start to the season. The Canadian is enjoying an eye-catching resurgence so far this year. Having failed to win a title in a difficult 2024 across which he struggled for any sort of form, he kicked off his new campaign with an impressive title run in Adelaide and has now backed that up with another strong showing this week.
Once again demonstrating his formidable prowess on indoor hard courts – conditions which have yielded five of the Canadian’s six ATP titles thus far – Auger-Aliassime was too strong for his comparatively inexperienced opponent today as he eyes a return to tennis’ top 20.
De Jong’s novice status as a first-time semi-finalist may have surprised unknowing observers, however, as the Dutchman put in a fine performance of his own to pose a genuine test to his opponent.
spirited de jong gives auger-aliassime a good test
Both players settled into the contest well with a pair of comfortable holds each, until De Jong was forced to fend off four break points in the fifth game as Auger-Aliassime began to make greater inroads into his opponent’s serve. He broke through just two games later to seal what was the pivotal break in the opening set, proceeding to serve out a one-set lead.
The second stanza was a closer affair, with the pair trading breaks in the fourth and fifth games. It was De Jong who struck first, breaking the Canadian for the first time in the match before being pegged straight back.
The Dutchman’s serve continued to come under sustained pressure from the impressively returning Auger-Aliassime. But De Jong defended admirably, holding serve for the remainder of the set to force a tiebreak.
But taking the contest to a decider was a step too far for De Jong, as Auger-Aliassime lifted his intensity in the breaker to seal a straight-set win and safe passage into the final.
auger-aliassime’s 2025 resurgence continues
Despite a somewhat disappointing second-round exit at the Australian Open, the Canadian – currently ranked 23rd in the world – has enjoyed a stellar start to the 2025 season. Auger-Aliassime is now 8-1 in his win-loss record for the year and has already reached a second final, having made only one across all of his under-par 2024 campaign.
He will take on either top-seeded Andrey Rublev or American qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic in tomorrow’s final.
Should he come through that one, then Auger-Aliassime’s excellent start to the year will gather yet more momentum as he looks to return to the lofty heights of his brilliant best.
Frankly, that’s a sight men’s tennis has gone too long without.
