Felix Auger-Aliassime started his title defence at the Open Occitanie with a straight-sets victory over veteran Stan Wawrinka.

The first seed, who was forced to retire with injury in the first round of the Australian Open, won 6-4 7-6 (7-3) in an hour and 48 minutes to progress to the quarter-finals in Montpellier.

After Auger-Aliassime made a strong start on serve, conceding just three points in his first three service games, he broke Wawrinka in the seventh game of the opening set.

Wawrinka, who will retire at the end of the season, squandered two break points in the tenth game as Auger-Aliassime took the first set.

The 40-year-old then saved four break points in the opening game of the second before the pair exchanged breaks to force a tie-break.

Auger-Aliassime raced into a 6-1 lead in the tie-break before clinching victory with his third match point.

Aiming high @felixtennis' title defence is up and running!@OpenOccitanie | #OpenOccitanie26 pic.twitter.com/JeImN1KnAZ

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 5, 2026

Elsewhere, second seed Flavio Cobolli was stunned by compatriot Luca Nardi in the last 16.

Cobolli lost 6-2 6-3, continuing his miserable start to the year after a first-round exit in the Australian Open.

Tallon Griekspoor booked his place in the quarter-finals in Montpellier with a 6-4 6-4 win over Pablo Carreno-Busta.

Data Debrief: Auger-Alliasime shows indoor prowess

Since the start of the decade, Auger-Aliassime has earned an ATP tour-leading 86 indoor victories, lifting seven titles in these conditions.

The Canadian won an impressive 82.2% of his first serve points against Wawrinka, who could not find a way back into the match despite saving eight of the 10 break points he faced.

Cobolli, meanwhile, has failed to win all four of his ATP meetings against Nardi.