After a week full of excitement and memorable matches, Félix Auger-Aliassime was crowned champion of the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open, a tournament organized by Tennium, which was held in Brussels for the first time. The Canadian defeated third seed Jiri Lehecka from the Czech Republic in a thrilling three-set final, claiming his second title at this tournament (2022 and 2025).
Both finalists reached the decisive match after outstanding performances throughout the week. Second seed Auger-Aliassime (ATP 13) had a challenging start, needing three sets and a deciding tiebreak to overcome Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur (ATP 67). From that point on, the Canadian found his rhythm, defeating Spizzirri (ATP 111) and Belgian Collignon (ATP 90) in straight sets.
Third seed Lehecka also began by facing a Belgian in the opening round, Gilles-Arnaud Bailly (ATP 247), before convincingly beating French players Bonzi (ATP 53) and Mpetshi Perricard (ATP 37). Last year’s finalist, the Czech was aiming for his first title on Belgian soil and the third ATP title of his career.
In the final, the match delivered from the very first point. Powerful rallies and delicate drop shots kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. In the first tiebreak, Auger-Aliassime took control, pulling ahead quickly and securing the advantage with a strong serve.
The second set saw Lehecka show great resilience, forcing another tiebreak to level the match. However, in the deciding set, Auger-Aliassime broke early and maintained his lead to close out the match with a final score of 6-7 (2), 7-6, 6-2, securing his second title at this tournament.
Harrison and Alex King Claim the Doubles Title
The doubles final featured the two top-seeded teams: Edouard Roger-Vasselin / Hugo Nys against Americans Christian Harrison and Alex King.
The first set was extremely close, going to a tiebreak with only minimal differences between the teams. Christian Harrison sealed the set with a superb passing shot (6-7 (10)).
Despite the experience of Roger-Vasselin, who was aiming to become the first player to win the title three times, the Americans held their ground and won the second-set tiebreak as well, securing the championship (6-7 (5)).
After the conclusion of this tenth edition, Kristoff Puelinckx, CEO of Tennium, shared his impressions of the tournament:
“By moving to Brussels, we have firmly established ourselves among the 55 ATP tournaments worldwide and strengthened our position as an international event. Matches were broadcast to numerous countries, and we welcomed players from 22 different nationalities, including ten Belgians, all of whom performed admirably. The key to our success is combining international stars like Musetti with a strong local presence. And my greatest satisfaction? The enthusiasm of the crowd. No tournament can thrive without its fans. In Brussels, we saw a great balance between Flemish and Walloon supporters, and around 30% of ticket buyers were English speakers, a clear sign of the event’s growing international reach.”
Dick Norman, Tournament Director, added:
“The move to Brussels was a major challenge, with many factors to consider. But we can proudly say that the tournament was a complete success, both for the players and the fans. The strong player field is a great recognition of the work of the entire organization. With this solid foundation, the tournament can only continue to grow.”
The tenth edition of the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open not only showcased top-level tennis but also highlighted the growing international appeal of the tournament. With thrilling matches, enthusiastic fans, and high-level performances across singles and doubles, Brussels proved to be a memorable stage for players and spectators alike. The tournament’s successful debut in the Belgian capital sets the tone for many exciting editions to come.
