Auger-Aliassime Cruises Past Fils to Reach Montpellier Semifinals in Title Defense

Top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime continued his dominant title defense at the Open Occitanie in Montpellier, dispatching rising French star Arthur Fils 6-4, 6-2 in Friday's quarterfinals. The Canadian's comprehensive victory showcased the form that carried him to the 2025 title and positioned him just two wins away from becoming the first back-to-back champion at the ATP 250 event since Lucas Pouille in 2016-2017.

Auger-Aliassime's performance was clinical from start to finish, as he controlled the baseline exchanges and capitalized on Fils' mounting frustration. The 25-year-old Canadian broke serve at crucial moments in both sets, never facing a break point on his own delivery. His first serve percentage hovered above 70%, and he won an impressive 85% of points when landing his first delivery, giving Fils virtually no opportunities to gain a foothold in the match.

The quarterfinal represented a significant test for Auger-Aliassime, as Fils entered the match riding a wave of confidence and carrying the hopes of the home crowd. The 22-year-old Frenchman had shown flashes of brilliance earlier in the week, but struggled to execute his aggressive game plan against the tournament's top seed. Fils' frustration became increasingly visible as the match progressed, particularly in the second set when Auger-Aliassime elevated his level to close out the victory in just 79 minutes.

Earlier in the week, Auger-Aliassime had sent an emphatic message to the draw by dismantling three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in straight sets. That dominant performance against the Swiss veteran demonstrated that the Canadian arrived in Montpellier with his game in peak condition. His combination of powerful serving, aggressive returning, and solid baseline consistency has made him the clear favorite to lift the trophy on Sunday.

The semifinals will also feature an intriguing matchup between Frenchmen Adrian Mannarino and Martin Damm Jr., who is competing in his first ATP semifinal. Damm, son of former doubles star Martin Damm, defeated Luca Nardi 6-3, 7-6(8) to reach the final four. The other semifinal will pit Auger-Aliassime against 22-year-old Frenchman Titouan Droguet, who pulled off the upset of the tournament by defeating sixth seed Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(5), 7-6(1) in a serving masterclass.

Saturday's semifinals promise to test whether Auger-Aliassime can maintain his exceptional level against Droguet, who will have massive home support behind him. With the Canadian's title defense progressing smoothly and his confidence growing with each match, he remains the clear favorite to claim his second consecutive Montpellier crown. The final is scheduled for Sunday, February 8, when either Auger-Aliassime will complete his successful title defense or a new champion will be crowned at the Open Occitanie.