Rublev, Auger-Aliassime Favored in Montpellier Semifinals

MONTPELLIER, France – Top seeds Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime are set to dominate the semifinals of the Open Sud de France on Saturday, with both players heavily favored to advance to the final.

Rublev, ranked No. 10 in the world, will face qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic, while Auger-Aliassime, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, takes on Dutch underdog Jesper de Jong. Both matches mark the first head-to-head meetings between the players.

Rublev has had a relatively smooth path to the semifinals, benefiting from a first-round bye and a quarterfinal retirement by Nikoloz Basilashvili. The Russian has only played two full sets this week, defeating Chris Eubanks 6-4, 6-3 in the second round. His indoor hard-court prowess makes him a strong favorite against Kovacevic, who is ranked 102nd in the world.

Kovacevic, however, has been in stellar form, winning five consecutive matches, including a victory over defending champion Alexander Bublik. The American qualifier has already surpassed his previous career-best performance, matching his semifinal run at the 2022 Seoul Open.

On the other side of the draw, Auger-Aliassime continues to showcase his dominance on indoor hard courts. The Canadian, who recently won the Adelaide International, has dropped just one set in Montpellier. He defeated Arthur Cazaux and Bu Yunchaokete in straight sets to reach the semifinals.

De Jong, ranked 131st, has been the surprise of the tournament, securing three main-draw victories after previously winning only two tour-level matches in his career. The Dutchman defeated Quentin Halys, Flavio Cobolli, and Tallon Griekspoor to earn his semifinal berth. However, Auger-Aliassime’s experience and indoor success make him the clear favorite.

Both Rublev and Auger-Aliassime are expected to advance, setting up a potential clash between two of the ATP Tour’s top players in Sunday’s final.