Felix Auger-Aliassime has just been given a huge chance of kickstarting his season after his unfortunate Australian Open campaign.
Auger-Aliassime was a dark horse for the Australian Open, but he was forced to retire against Nuno Borges due to cramping.
The Canadian has bounced back at the Open Occitanie in France, where he has reached the semi-finals of the event.
Auger-Aliassime has now been given a huge slice of luck which could help him win his first ATP 500 event since 2023.
Felix Auger-Aliassime is now undoubtedly the favourite for the Rotterdam Open
Auger-Aliassime will head to the Rotterdam Open next, which has been rocked by a number of high-profile withdrawals.
Carlos Alcaraz exited Rotterdam after winning the Australian Open and he was followed by Alexander Zverev.
How would you rate Felix Auger-Aliassime’s chances of winning a Grand Slam in 2026?
They were followed out by Jack Draper’s withdrawal, who dropped out after his return match at the Davis Cup.
That leaves Alex de Minaur and Auger-Aliassime as the top seeds, and the Canadian should absolutely be the favourite for the Netherlands event.
The star’s indoor hardcourt record is exceptional, with seven of his last eight tournament victories coming inside.
The star has surprisingly not won an ATP 500 event since his victory at the 2023 Swiss Indoors, so he will be chomping at the bit to lift the trophy in Rotterdam.
Who will Felix Auger-Aliassime play in Rotterdam?
Auger-Aliassime has been drawn in the bottom half of the Rotterdam Open and he will play Alexei Popyrin in the first round.
Karen Khachanov, Alexander Bublik, and Tallon Griekspoor are the seeds in his half of the draw, so he will fancy his chances of reaching the final.
What is your bold prediction for the 2026 tennis season?
The Canadian looks likely to play the likes of Zizou Bergs and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the early stages of the tournament.
He has an excellent record at the Dutch tournament, having reached the final in 2020 and lifted the trophy two years later.
Auger-Aliassime will be expecting to perform just as well in 2026, as he looks to win his first title of the season.
