In the semifinals of the ATP Montpellier tournament, top-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime is the only player among the seeded competitors competing for a place in the final. He faces French qualifier Titouan Droguet, while Adrian Mannarino goes up against fellow qualifier Martin Damm.
Felix Auger-Aliassime, the defending champion, has made a strong comeback after an early exit at the Australian Open last month, where he retired from his first-round match due to injury. Since returning to the court for this event, the Canadian has demonstrated his proficiency on indoor hard courts, winning his matches against Stan Wawrinka and Arthur Fils in straight sets. Auger-Aliassime hopes to maintain this momentum against Droguet, who sits at 150th in the ATP rankings and has had a remarkable run, albeit with limited experience on the main tour.
Droguet’s journey to the semifinals includes victories over Jan Choinski, Aleksandar Kovacevic, and Tallon Griekspoor. However, facing Auger-Aliassime, a player of a vastly higher caliber, presents a formidable challenge. It will be a significant step up in competition for the 24-year-old.
In the other semifinal, Mannarino will look to continue his strong performance on home soil. The seasoned player, despite facing a tough patch leading up to this tournament, has found his rhythm in Montpellier, defeating Pedro Martinez, Ugo Humbert, and Arthur Gea to position himself in the final four. Mannarino thrives on indoor surfaces, where his experience and left-handed play come into sharp focus.
Martin Damm, a rising star at just 22 years old, has also made headlines in Montpellier. He has had an impressive tournament thus far, notably eliminating Hubert Hurkacz, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Luca Nardi without dropping a set. With an astonishing tally of 40 aces across three matches, Damm has been dominant on serve, not facing a single break point, and he looks poised to challenge Mannarino in what is expected to be a thrilling match-up between two left-handed players.
As the atmosphere builds in Montpellier, fans can anticipate an exciting day of tennis ahead, with Auger-Aliassime and Damm looking to secure their spots in the final of this prestigious indoor event.
