Felix Auger-Aliassime edged a three-set thriller against qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic to claim his second ATP title of the season in Montpellier on Sunday. (More Tennis News)
In Singapore, Elise Mertens ﷽eased to her ninth WTA singles title after beating American Ann Li in straight sets at the Singapore Open final
Felix Auger-Aliassime edged a three-set thriller against qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic to claim his second ATP title of the season in Montpellier on Sunday. (More Tennis News)
Auger-Aliassime, who won the Adela𝓰ide International las🌞t month, emerged a 6-2 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-2) victor against his American opponent in two hours and 39 minutes.
The Canadian let slip two championship points in the second-set tie-break, but 🌺recovered brilliantly to earn his seventh ATP🔯 Tour title, six of which have come indoors.
Auger-Aliassime’s difficult path to victory had seemed unlikely after he dominated the opening set of the final, but ⛎;Kovacevic responded in the second with some excellent tennis.
Kovacevic reeled off three straight points to level ꦍthe match. However, Auger-Aliassime remained ca♑lm, sealing the victory with an ace to end the contest.
"For sure, the craziest final 🎉I have played, whether I won or lost," said Auger-Aliassime in his on-court interview. "It was a crazy match. I co𒉰uldn’t have got a better start.
"I was feeling goodܫ, but credit to Aleks, he raised his level൩. I think it was a very high level on both ends, serving well.
"This match deserved to go three sets with the way he was playing in the seco�𝓀�nd."
Meanwhile, in Singapore, Elise Mertens eased to her nint൲h WTA singles title on Sunday after beating American Ann Li in straight sets at the Singapore O෴pen final. ;
Mertens needed just one hour and 22 minutes to seal a 6-1 6-4 triumph, securing her first tour victory since she𝐆 won the Monastir title in October 2023.
She has now won seven of her nine titles on hard court, while Mertens also continued h꧂e꧂r fine start to the 2025 season after finishing as the runner-up at the Hobart International.
The Belgian lea🐓ves Singapore with a 10-2 record for the year, the quickest she has managed to reach that many victories since 2021, when she started with 10-1.
Mertens started strongly to proceedings as she 😼c🥂ruised to the opening set in just 28 minutes, losing just two points on serve as she claimed the early advantage.
Though Li threatened to produce a com𒀰eback in the second, Mertens outlasted her opponent ♕in a gruelling 23-shot rally to earn championship point, which she converted.
&qu💃ot;It became tight in the end," Me🦂rtens said. "It was a bit nerve-wracking. I had a good start, and I felt she was building up pretty well, so I’m very pleased that I could finish that.
"All credit to [Li] for❀ c🐬oming back in the second set, but I really, really wanted to win today."