Confident Lehecka Wins European Open Debut

Jiri Lehecka, European Open
Jiri Lehecka (photo: ATP Tour video)

ANTWERP/WASHINGTON, October 15, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

In his European Open debut, No. 5 seed Jiri Lehecka aimed to be just the second Czech match winner in tournament history after Jiri Vesely in 2018. The two Czechs shared a common opponent — despite the six-year gap: Jaume Munar of Spain.

Opening play on Center Court inside Lotto Arena against No. 65 Munar Tuesday, whom he beat 6-1, 6-4 in an hour and 25 minutes, the 33rd-ranked Lehecka improved to 11-2 in opening-round matches with six consecutive wins and 10 triumphs in his last 11 matches against players ranked outside of the Top 50. It was his second triumph over Munar in the last 10 days.

The first-round match might have ended sooner if it hadn’t been for a meandering six-deuce, 18-point final game that stretched across 12 minutes, in which Munar fought off five match points against Lehecka before gifting a double-fault on match-point number six. It allowed the 22-year-old Czech No. 2 to close out his 25th win of the season in his 40th outing, while the Spaniard fell to 13-24 (1-4 lifetime in Antwerp).

“The first set was about what I let him do, and in the second set he improved so much,” Lehecka said during his on-court interview. “I felt that it would be a difficult challenge for me to win the second set. We saw that he fought until the end. We played last week in Shanghai, and we both knew it would be a tough competition again, so it’s a good win for me and I’m very happy to be in the second round.”

Indeed, Lehecka defeated Munar in the opening round at the Rolex Shanghai Masters earlier this month, also in straight sets. This time, he broke the 28-year-old Munar’s serve four times in nine opportunities, saved both break points he faced and outpointed his opponent 65-45. Throughout, his confident demeanor was on display.

“Since the first day I came here I’ve felt good on this surface,” Lehecka said. “I’ve felt comfortable with the balls and the conditions here in Antwerp. I felt good since the first moment I arrived here. A few good practices gave me important confidence which I used today.”

Now, Lehecka is through to the second round against either No. 84 Daniel Altmaier of Germany of 19-year-old Belgian qualifier Gilles Arnaud Bailly, who play Wednesday afternoon.

Giron garners his 100th ATP Tour victory

Eighth seed Marcos Giron of the United States achieved his 100th tour-level triumph with a 6-4, 6-1 win over No. 68 Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands in 79 minutes on Center Court. In improving his career win-loss record to 100-116 (23-23 in 2024), the 31-year-old World No. 47 became the sixth active American to achieve 100 victories.

Giron, who reached the first of his 20 career ATP Tour quarterfinals in Antwerp as a qualifier in 2020, won all but two points on his first serve, hit 13 winners and took advantage of 38 unforced errors by his opponent. The former NCAA single champion broke van de Zandschulp’s serve four times and did not face any break points. He outpointed the Dutchman 69-48. It was van de Zandschulp’s 10th loss in his last 11 against Top-50 opponents.

“I’m really happy with my match performance today,” Giron said in his on-court interview. “The first set was really close — it could have gone either way. I’m really happy with how I started the second set. Botic is an incredible player … He’s has so much potential. He’s so fast, has so many good weapons and is always a tough one to play.”

Next, Giron will face No. 62 Arthur Rinderknech of France, who eased past 231st-ranked Belgian wild card Alexander Blockx, 6-3, 6-1, in one hour and 20 minutes Tuesday evening. Rinderknech struck 23 winners and saved eight of nine break point he faced from the 19-year-old Belgian, who was making his second-straight appearance in the Antwerp main draw.

Bergs gives Belgians a crowd-pleasing performance

Zizou Bergs made his ATP Tour debut at the European Open as a wild card four years ago. He beat then-No. 45 Albert Ramos-Vinolas and also took a set off former World No. 17 Karen Khachanov.

Now 25, the up-and-coming Bergs has become the bright light of Belgian men’s tennis in a big way. Currently ranked at a career-best 69th, the Lommel, Belgium native, who now lives and trains in Antwerp, packed the house inside Lotto Arena Tuesday evening for his first-round match against Argentine lefty Facundo Diaz Acosta, ranked 67th, making his tour-level indoor debut.

By the end of their one-hour, 45-minute tussle, Bergs not only beat Diaz Acosta, 7-5, 6-4, but he also put on quite a crowd-pleasing effort. His match-point display — a backhand overhead volley for a winner — was quite a showstopper. The victory kept Bergs undefeated (6-0) versus Argentines across all levels.

Bergs hit 22 winners, won 75 percent of his second-serve return points, broke Diaz Acosta three times in eight tries, and outpointed his opponent 74-62.

“I felt tense today; I’m not used to that,” Bergs said in his on-court interview. “I pushed myself to be aggressive, to find my rhythm. In the end, I got into the flow, my rhythm was better. I came in to the net at the right times, being tough and dominant when I had to. Overall, I’m pleased [with my win].”

The victory, which was the 13th this season for Bergs, advanced him to play another Argentine, No. 4 Sebastian Baez, on Thursday.

Around the European Open

No. 60 Roberto Bautista Agut eased past 119th-ranked French qualifier Luca van Assche, 6-2, 6-1, in 73 minutes to advance to the second round against No. 6 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina. Bautista Agut converted four of seven break points and outpointed his opponent 55-34.

No. 77 Hugo Gaston of France advanced over 336th-ranked Russian qualifier Alexey Vatutin, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, in one hour and 47 minutes by hitting 16 winners and outpointing his opponent 88-83. Gaston will oppose No. 7 Mariano Novone in a second-round match on Wednesday.

Brazilian qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild, ranked 80th, upset No. 48 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France, 7-6 (4), 6-3, in an hour and 18 minutes to move into the second round against World No. 11 and second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece. Seyboth Wild hit 29 winners — including 11 aces — and outpointed his opponent 70-58. It was their first tour-level meeting.

In doubles, No. 2 seeds Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France defeated Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain and Mariano Novone of Argentina, 6-1, 7-5, to move into the quarterfinal round.

Also advancing were: No. 3 seeds Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen of Belgium, who rallied to beat Manuel Guinard and Gregoire Jacq of France, 4-6, 6-3, 13-11; and unseeded Sander Arends of the Netherlands and Luke Johnson of Great Britain, who defeated wild cards Michael Geerts of Belgium and Yannick Hanfmann of Germany, 6-3, 6-2.

World No. 9 and tournament top seed Alex de Minaur of Australia will play his opening-round match against No. 54 Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain on Center Court Wednesday evening not before 6:30 p.m. local time.

Tuesday’s European Open results

Wednesday’s European Open order of play

By the numbers

In defeating Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro Monday afternoon to garner his first career indoor victory on the ATP Tour, No. 43-ranked Mariano Navone also snapped a five-match losing streak against left-handed players dating back to Queen’s Club in June.

“Quotable …”

“I’ve always really enjoyed playing in Antwerp. I’ve been coming here since 2020. I really like the court; I love the people. I love the stadium. I really enjoy it here. … I love playing indoors; I feel comfortable here.”

— No. 47 Marcos Giron of the United States, during his on-court interview after his first-round win Tuesday, commenting on his love and joy of competing in Antwerp.

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