AMERICAN qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic‘s dream of a maiden ATP Tour title is not over after stunning top seed and world number 10 Andrey Rublev in the Montpellier semi-finals overnight. Kovacevic has been on a tear of late, having won a Portugal Challenger event as top seed, then after failing to qualifier in Quimper at the same level, earned a place in the qualifiers for Montpellier.

Kovacevic’s run to the final has been far from easy, defeating the likes of Pablo Carreno Busta, David Goffin, Alexander Bublik and now Rublev, who are three of the top six seeds. If he can win the final against second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, then the American will have beaten three of the top four players in the draw.

Despite Rublev having the higher dominance rating for the match – 1.03 to 0.97 – the Russian was unable to capitalise on his break point chances, converting just one break of serve, while his opponent – with the same amount of opportunities – secured three.

That was the game in a nutshell with Kovacevic hitting one more winner (26 to 25) and one more ace (nine to eight), but also hit five more unforced errors (32-27). He did win 80 per cent of his first serve points, and though his 53 per cent serving efficiency let him down, both players ran at 50 per cent off their second serves.

“It seems like every day we have the same conversation about me playing the best match I ever played,” Kovacevic said post-match. “My level has definitely been good this week. Andrey is an incredible player, I have been watching him for years. Just stepping on the court with someone like this is a privilege.

“When you’re an underdog, playing a Top 10 opponent like that, you’re a lot more free. You have to go for it against these guys. I’m honoured to be on court with them, but if you don’t show up they’re going to take it, just like they always do.”

The American faces Auger-Alissiame who shook off Dutchman Jesper De Jong to win in the other semi-final. In a two-hour and five-minute struggle, the Canadian got up 6-4 7-6 with a dominance rating of 1.24. He hit 34 winners to De Jong’s 21, while only committing three more unforced errors.

In a battle of two similar styles, Auger-Aliassime’s class rose to the top. His serving at times was a little sketchy – with six double faults and a 60 per cent clip – but he saved the day with 12 aces and winning both 74 and 37 per cent of his first and second serve points. He also created 13 break point opportunities, and though he converted just two, was only broken once himself during the match.

“The second set was very tricky, up and down,” Auger-Aliassime said. “I started serving less good and kept him in the match, but in the end I was glad I was able to come back and win in two sets. Not every match is going to be a straight road forward, so to pull it through in straight sets is a great thing.”

2025 OPEN OCCITANIE ATP 250 – SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:

[Q] Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA) defeated [1] Andrey Rublev (RUS) 7-5 6-4
[2] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) defeated Jesper De Jong (NED) 6-4 7-6