Onclin Provides Belgian Fans With Lone Win As European Open Qualifying Begins

Gauthier Onclin
Gauthier Onclin (photo: Jonathan Douette – BNP Oaribas Fortis European Open)

BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON, October 18, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

While much of the focus on opening day of qualifying for the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Brussels centered on a quartet of Belgian players, one who stood out Saturday was 168th-ranked Gauthier Onclin. 

The 25-year-old Onclin from Liège, a winner of a pair of ATP Challenger Tour titles – both at Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – as well as three World Tennis Tour crowns earlier this season, represented Belgium in its recent Davis Cup Qualifiers tie against Austria and lost to Jurij Rodionov. Thus, his first-round qualifying draw match in this ATP 250 indoor hard-court event at Brussels Expo was much anticipated.

Playing in his home country, Onclin (49-24) provided Belgian fans with plenty to cheer about after he earned his 49th win of the season in all competitions to secure his place in Sunday’s second and final round of qualifying.

Onclin began play on Centre Court against 182nd-ranked Harry Wendelken of Great Britain and won, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, in two hours and 16 minutes – the longest qualifying match of the day. He fought past 11 aces by Wendelken and countered with seven aces of own and hit 36 winners. Onclin won 72 percent (36 of 50) of his first-serve points, saved three of five break points and converted six of 17 break points against the Briton. He outpointed Wendelken 101-78.

On Sunday, Onclin will face No. 4 seed Clement Chidekh of France, ranked 146th, with the winner advancing into the 28-player main draw field.

Around the Brussels Expo

• Qualifying draw top seed Martin Damm of the United States advanced to Sunday’s second round after defeating 271st-ranked Belgian wild card Buvaysar Gadamauri, 6-1, 6-4, in 60 minutes on Centre Court. The 104th-ranked Damm, a lefty from Bradenton, Fla., struck seven aces, hit 20 winners overall and won 81 percent (29 of 36) of his first-serve points. He saved all five break points he faced from Gadamauri and broke the 26-year-old Belgian’s serve three times in four tries. Damm outpointed his opponent, 57-39.

Next, Damm will face No. 7 seed Andrea Guerrieri of Italy for a berth in the main draw. The 165th-ranked Guerrieri advanced over Belgium’s Kimmer Coppejans, ranked No. 232, 7-6 (2), 6-4. 

• No. 3 seed Nishesh Basavareddy of the United States and No. 4 seed Clement Chidekh of France advanced with straight-set victories. Basavareddy defeated 199th-ranked Edas Butvilas of Lithuania, 6-2, 6-1, while No. 146 Chidekh took out 337th-ranked Belgian wild card Gilles Arnaud Bailly, 6-1, 6-3.

However, No. 2 seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France, ranked No. 108, was upset by No. 227 Remy Bertola of Switzerland, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (2), 7-5, in two hours and three minutes on Court 1. Bertola withstood 30 aces and 44 winners overall from Mpetshi Perricard. He finished with 11 aces of his own, won 80 percent (56 of 70) of his first-serve points and faced no break points. Bertola converted one of five break points against the big-serving Frenchman and outpointed him 109-104.

On Sunday, Basavareddy will face 430th-ranked Aziz Dougaz of Tunisia, who is playing with a protected ranking, while Bertola will face No. 5 seed Federico Cina of Italy, ranked 147th. 

Dougaz went the distance to advance with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (0) win over No. 6 seed Tom Gentzsch of Germany, ranked 164th, while Cina defeated No. 176 Joel Schwaerzler of Austria, 6-3, 7-6 (4). 

Saturday’s European Open results

Sunday’s European Open order of play

 

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