Top-10 player and defending champion Félix Auger-Aliassime (ATP 4) will compete in the eleventh edition of the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Brussels, held from 17 to 25 October. The Canadian, who has won the tournament twice and holds the all-time record, will have the chance to become the first player ever to claim a third title. With the previously announced Norwegian Casper Ruud (ATP-12) and Belgian fan favourites Raphaël Collignon (ATP-43) and Zizou Bergs (ATP-48) already confirmed, the entry list for the Brussels ATP 250 event is taking impressive shape.
Ranked fourth in the world, Auger-Aliassime is firmly established among the global elite. The Canadian has been a top-10 fixture for years, consistently proving himself as one of the most reliable performers at the highest level of the game.
Last year’s final in Brussels is one that many tennis fans will not soon forget. After defeating compatriot Raphaël Collignon in the semi-finals, Auger-Aliassime faced Czech player Jiri Lehecka (ATP-14), the 2024 finalist, in a packed Brussels Expo. What followed was a high-quality contest in which neither player gave an inch. It took three sets and two tiebreaks before the Canadian finally prevailed and lifted the trophy.
It was Auger-Aliassime’s second title on Belgian soil. He had previously won the tournament in 2022, then held in Antwerp, with a commanding victory over American Sebastian Korda (ATP-61). That makes him the only player to have won the event twice, a record he now has the opportunity to extend by becoming the first three-time champion in the tournament’s history.
The 25-year-old continues to impress this season. He has climbed to fourth in the world rankings, cementing his place among the international elite. At Roland Garros, he reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by eventual finalist Flavio Cobolli (ATP-10). Earlier in the year, he also reached the final of the ATP 250 event in Montpellier and the ATP 500 in Rotterdam.
With a top-10 player of Auger-Aliassime’s calibre now confirmed, the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open entry list is coming together nicely. Norwegian star Casper Ruud (ATP-12), a multiple Grand Slam finalist, along with Belgian crowd favourites Raphaël Collignon and Zizou Bergs, had already been announced. The full entry list will continue to take shape over the coming months and already promises an exciting spectacle at Brussels Expo.
Dick Norman, Tournament Director of the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open: “Félix has been among the world’s best for years and is currently ranked fourth on the ATP Tour. Having a player of his calibre choose Brussels again is fantastic news for Belgian tennis fans. He also holds a very special place in the history of our tournament. Our fans will surely remember the incredible matches he played here, last year as well as in 2022. He’s the kind of player who electrifies a crowd with his aggressive game and fighting spirit. As a two-time champion, he’s already our record holder, and we can’t wait to see whether he can become the first player ever to win a third title.”
Félix Auger-Aliassime (ATP-4): “I’ve always enjoyed playing in Belgium. I have wonderful memories of my two titles here, and especially of the incredible atmosphere the fans create every time. That atmosphere, combined with the quality of the organisation and the enthusiasm of the crowd, always makes me feel very welcome. I’m already looking forward to coming back to Brussels in October and hope to show my best tennis once again. My goal is obviously to go as far as possible and defend my title to the best of my ability.”
The BNP Paribas Fortis European Open takes place from Saturday 17 to Sunday 25 October 2026 at Brussels Expo.