Successful title defence: Felix Auger-Aliassime takes home ninth ATP title in supreme Open Occitanie triumph

Felix Auger-Aliassime has managed to defend his title in the 2026 Open Occitanie with a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Adrian Mannarino.

It is a huge step in the right direction for the 25-year-old who recently endured a torrid Australian Open. Going into it as one of the outside favourites and in blistering form, cramp forced him to withdraw in his opening match while trailing Nuno Borges 2-1. An opportunity was missed, but he has soon put that at the back of his mind with a title defence the next priority in southern France.

Mannarino was firmly the second favourite going into the final, but he had the passionate French support on his side. His last final appearances came in 2023, making four finals in a triumphant year. He won the last three of them, and after a long wait had the chance to win a first trophy on home soil.

Auger-Aliassime won this title in a three-set battle against Aleksandar Kovacevic last year, coming through in a late tiebreaker after squandering two match points a set earlier. He made a better job of it this year, managing to get over the line for a straight sets victory in a match where chances were rather limited.

Auger-Aliassime is an indoor specialist, showing that immense form at the end of 2025 with a title in the European Open along with a final appearance in the Paris Masters and a respectable showing in the ATP Finals. He had looked very good throughout the week and continued this positive momentum on the front foot with a break in the first game.

It would be a nightmare start for Mannarino who lost the opening eight points. He needed to up his game to avoid a routing, and managed to get on the board the next game. The break deficit he was behind would be crucial, and both players seemed comfortable on their own serve, After the Canadian got pushed in the longest game of the first set, he culminated the first set of the final with a second break to streak out in front.

Nine points were won against the serve in the opening nine games of the second set with both players continuing to capitalise on their own serves. No break point opportunities were created as Auger-Aliassime looked for a way to get his nose in front to confirm a successful title defence in Montpellier.

The two-time US Open semi-finalist finally found a breakthrough on the 37-year-olds serve when 5-4 ahead, mustering up a championship point. He was not able to convert, and Mannarino levelled it up once more and prolonged this final. It went to a tiebreaker, in which Mannarino took a 4-2 lead as he looked to commence a third set. This would not be the case as his opponent went on to win five points on the bounce to claim back his title in determined fashion.