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Auger-Aliassime let slip two championship points in the second-set tie-break but held firm for a 6-2, 6-7(7), 7-6(2) triumph.

“For sure, the craziest final I have played, whether I won or lost,” said Auger-Aliassime in his on-court interview. “It was a crazy match. I couldn’t have got a better start. I was feeling good, but credit to Aleks, he raised his level. I think it was a very high level on both ends, serving well. This match deserved to go three sets with the way he was playing in the second.”

Competing in his maiden tour-level final, Kovacevic was bidding to become the third qualifier to claim an ATP Tour title in the space of three months (Denis Shapovalov in Belgrade, Benjamin Bonzi in Metz). After a difficult start, the 26 year-old competed admirably, but he was unable to produce a final flourish to get over the line.

In the deciding-set tie-break, Auger-Aliassime took control with some high-class, all-court tennis. He moved to the net effectively and was precise on serve. The Canadian clinched his victory with an ace out wide before letting out an emotional roar with his arms aloft.

With his Montpellier success, Auger-Aliassime became a seven-time ATP Tour champion. Six of those titles have come indoors, including one at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, where he will compete next week.

Auger-Aliassime’s difficult path to victory had seemed unlikely after he dominated the opening set. He reeled off five consecutive games from 1-2 to ease into the lead, before both players dialled in on serve in a second set that did not feature a break point.

In the tie-break, Auger-Aliassime twice held championship point on return at 6/5 and behind his own serve at 7/6, before an increasingly confident Kovacevic reeled off three straight points to level the match.

The third set was similarly serve-dominated, although Kovacevic did earn one break point before his opponent held serve for 6-5. With that chance gone for the American, he was unable to deny Auger-Aliassime from earning swift tie-break revenge to earn the title.

Despite falling just short of lifting the trophy, Kovacevic can reflect on a dream week in Montpellier during which he earned five of his six wins across qualifying and the main draw in straight sets. He will be rewarded for his final run on Tuesday, when he is set to rise 27 spots to a career-high No. 75 in the ATP Rankings.