Aleksandar Kovacevic reaches first ATP final, returns to Top 100

Aleksandar Kovacevic went from being the top seed in qualifying to beating the top-seeded Andrey Rublev last week in Montpellier as he advanced to his first ATP Tour final.

The 26-year-old American won 12 out of 13 sets, including all four in qualifying, in a breakthrough week at the ATP 250 event on his favorite surface, indoor hard courts. After beating fourth seed Alexander Bublik and world No. 10 Rublev in straight sets to reach the title match, Kovacevic fell just short against Felix Auger-Aliassime on Sunday. In an epic final, he saved two championship points to force a deciding set before the second-seeded Canadian escaped with a 6-2, 6-7(7), 7-6(2) victory for his second title of the young season.

On Monday, the New York City native returned to the Top 100 in the ATP rankings at No. 75, three spots off his career high from last September.

In his second tour-level semifinal (Seoul 2022), Kovacevic beat Rublev 7-5, 6-4 for his first Top 10 win in Montpellier. Sparked by a big second serve that erased a break point at 4-4 in the second set, he won seven of the match's final eight points.

“It seems like every day we have the same conversation about me playing the best match I ever played,” Kovacevic said after pulling off the upset to become the first qualifier to reach the Montpellier final. “My level has definitely been good this week. Andrey is an incredible player, I have been watching him for years. Just stepping on the court with someone like this is a privilege.

“When you’re an underdog, playing a Top 10 opponent like that, you’re a lot more free. You have to go for it against these guys. I’m honored to be on court with them, but if you don’t show up they're going to take it, just like they always do.”