Félix Auger-Aliassime Brings Confidence Back on Stuttgart Grass
It’s good to see Félix Auger-Aliassime smiling again — and even better, winning again. The 24-year-old Canadian made a strong and convincing start to his grass court season by defeating France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, in his opening match at the Stuttgart Open. This wasn’t just a routine win; it was a statement from someone who’s clearly regaining his rhythm after some recent bumps on the road.
Coming off a tough first-round exit at Roland-Garros, Auger-Aliassime had something to prove, and he did just that in this second-round clash. He had a first-round bye, so this was his debut match of the tournament — and he came out sharp, focused, and technically clean. Against the powerful serve of Mpetshi Perricard, Félix kept his cool. Yes, the Frenchman hit more aces (8 to Félix's 3) and more winners overall, but Félix was smarter, steadier, and more opportunistic.
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He broke Mpetshi Perricard three times while only conceding one break himself. His serve stats were solid, and his return game was tactically sound, neutralizing the Frenchman's firepower with better shot selection and far fewer unforced errors — just 10 compared to the 24 committed by his opponent. This wasn’t about dominating the highlight reel; it was about managing pressure and executing at the right moments.
With that win, Félix improves his head-to-head to 2-1 over Mpetshi Perricard and now moves into the quarterfinals, where he’ll face a local sensation, 17-year-old German wildcard Justin Engel. Engel pulled off a major upset by knocking out the seventh seed, and he’s already drawn comparisons to Boris Becker, having become the youngest player to reach the quarters on grass since Becker did it 40 years ago. That’s the kind of youthful momentum that can be dangerous, especially with the home crowd behind him.
Still, Félix has the experience and the weapons to manage that pressure. If he maintains the same focus and clarity he showed against Mpetshi Perricard, there’s every reason to believe he can continue this run. He’s already won two titles this year, and with Wimbledon just around the corner, Stuttgart could be the confidence boost he needs to peak at the right time.
It’s only one match, yes — but it felt like a step in the right direction. Félix Auger-Aliassime is back on grass, back in form, and hopefully, back on the rise.
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