Cerundolo Continues Stellar Run In Brussels 

Francisco Cerundolo
Francisco Cerundolo (photo: Belga – BNP Paribas Fortis European Open)

BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON, October 24, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

Francisco Cerundolo has quietly but efficiently gone about his business at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open this week without much fanfare or spotlight. It’s something which, by all appearances, seems to suit him just fine.

After defeating 152nd-ranked French qualifier Clement Chidekh, 6-2, 6-4, in one hour and 16 minutes Friday afternoon in the opening quarterfinal match, the World No. 21 Cerundolo of Argentina is through to his 20th career ATP Tour semifinal – and third one on hard courts. He improved to 3-1 lifetime at the European Open, joining Diego Schwartzman (2016-18, 2021) as the only Argentine semifinalists in event history.

The third-seeded Cerundolo sprinted to the finish line and sealed his 38th victory of the season with his eighth service ace and 26th winner overall. It was the culmination of a solid effort by the Argentine No. 1, who improved to 13-1 versus players ranked outside the Top 100 this season.

“I’m super happy to be in the semifinals,” Cerundolo said during his on-court interview. “I think I played a really solid match on my side. I served really well the whole match. That was probably one of the keys.”

Indeed, Cerundolo won all but two of his first-serve points, winning 28 of 30 (93 percent) and faced no break points on his serve. He converted three of eight chances and outpointed Chidekh 64-45. Chidekh was held to just seven winners and committed 22 unforced errors.

“I knew [playing Clement] it was going to be super tough, but I think I played really good today. I’m super happy with the performance,” said Cerundolo, who improved to 38-20 this season.

Chidekh’s loss ended his surprising run, which began with a pair of wins last weekend in qualifying for the 28-player main draw. Then, the 25-year-old Frenchman strung together two straight victories – his first two on the ATP Tour, against No. 7 seed Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, ranked 38th, and against No. 87 Jacob Fearnley of Great Britain to reach his first ATP Tour quarterfinal.

Meanwhile, the week continues for the 28-year-old Cerundolo, who will face No. 60 Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, who scored his fifth Top-20 victory of the season by defeating World No. 20 and second seed Jiri Lehecka of Czechia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, in two hours and 16 minutes in their first tour-level meeting. 

“I’m having a great week,” Cerundolo said. “Hopefully, I can stay here longer.”

The same could be said for Griekspoor, 30, who became the first Dutch quarterfinalist in tournament history and now has advanced into his 12th career ATP Tour semifinal. It’s his second one after his run to the Dubai final last February, and by playing some of his best tennis of the season, Griekspoor has achieved his first Top-20 win indoors since Vienna last year.

Against Lehecka, a finalist at Brussels in each of the past two years, Griekspoor hit 20 winners to overcome 23 unforced errors, saved five of seven break points and converted three of four break-point chances. He outpointed Lehecka 93-87.

“Definitely [a huge win], especially if I look at myself the last couple of months. It’s not been easy,” Griekspoor said during his on-court interview. “It means a lot to beat a great player like him, especially on this surface. He’s a helluva player, so young [24 years-old] still. He’s going to win a lot of titles in his career. I’m very pleased with the win.”

Griekspoor, who improved his win-loss record this season to 16-21, has strung together a trio of quality wins in Brussels against German teenager Max Schoenhaus, No. 8 seed Mariano Navone of Argentina and Lehecka. 

“Step-by-step, day-by-day, everything is getting a little bit better,” Griekspoor admitted. “Some very tough matches, the first two. Same for today; big, big battle. I’m pleased to come through. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. …

“I’m very pleased with my week so far and I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

Fils prevails over Michelsen on sixth match point

Top seed Arthur Fils of France pulled through a nail-biting second-set tiebreaker, in which he needed six match points to pull away from No. 5 seed Alex Michelsen of the United States, 6-4, 7-6 (12), in one hour and 50 minutes to advance to Saturday’s semifinal round. 

By winning his 36th match of the season and advancing to his sixth tour-level semifinal in 2026, the World No. 10 Fils remains in pursuit of a berth in the Nitto ATP Finals. He sits in seventh place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, trailing No. 6 Daniil Medvedev by 95 points. Fils is ahead of eighth place Frances Tiafoe by 110 points and 266 points clear of ninth place Rafael Jodar, who is in the final qualification spot.

“At 6-4, 5-3, I saw myself in the locker room taking a shower,” quipped Fils, who saw action in Brussels for the first time this week. After drawing a first-round bye as the top seed, he received a walkover into the quarterfinals after his second-round opponent, Jaume Munar of Spain withdrew with a back injury. It was his first meeting against Michelsen.

“Then, [Alex] battled very hard. He was playing way better tennis than I was. So, I had to battle and I happy to have finished in two sets.”

Fils, who outpointed Michelsen 84-74, struck 31 winners to 31 unforced errors, converted three of four break points and benefited from 21 unforced errors by Michelsen, who was denied of a ninth career ATP Tour semifinals berth.

Next, Fils will face No. 58 Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, who prevailed over No. 41 Zizou Bergs of Belgium, the last Belgian remaining in the draw, 6-3, 7-6 (6), in one hour and 36 minutes. Struff saved all five break points he faced from Bergs and outpointed him 77-69. He’s the second German to reach the semifinal round in tournament history after Maximilian Marterer in 2023.

Around the Brussels Expo

• It’s not every day that an ATP Tour event changes venues during tournament week. However, that’s what has happened this week as the European Open moved its quarterfinals, semifinals and final to a different hall at Brussels Expo.

The reason for the usual move is because concerts were booked into the Brussels Expo main arena for the same week. Thus, the qualifying draw and first and second rounds were played at Palais 12 (ING Arena) before moving about 350 meters into Palais 5 for the closing weekend.

The changeover from Palais 12 into the larger Palais 5 (seating capacity 5,700) took place in a single night. Courts, operations and broadcast equipment were moved and event organizers were challenged to keep playing conditions alike in both halls. 

A trio of concerts are taking place in Palais 12 during the final weekend of the European Open. French rapper PLK performs on Saturday, rap duo Djadja & Dinaz play Sunday – the same day as the European Open final – and Duran Duran are on stage October 26.

As for the players, who reached the last eight on Friday, it presented them with the challenge of adjusting to a new Centre Court, new lighting and a different, larger atmosphere.

• In doubles, Constantin Frantzen of Germany and Robert Galloway of the United States received a walkover into Sunday’s final after the withdrawal of their semifinal opponents, Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina and Alex Michelsen of the United States.

An arm injury was cited as the reason for Cerundolo and Michelsen pulling out. Cerundolo remains alive in the singles draw after reaching the semifinal round, while Michelsen was eliminated during Friday’s quarterfinals.

Frantzen and Galloway await the outcome of Saturday’s other semifinal, which will be contested between unseeded Nicolas Barrientos of Colombia and David Pel of the Netherlands against No. 4 seeds Sadio Doumbia and Bart Stevens of the Netherlands.

Friday’s European Open results

Saturday’s European Open order of play

By the numbers

Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany is through to his 15th career ATP Tour semifinal – and first one on a hard-court surface since 2023 at Sofia. At age 36 years and five months, he’s the second-oldest semifinalist in tournament history.

“Quotable …”

“To be honest, I’ve always liked playing indoors. I had never played indoors in my life until I turned pro and started playing on the tour. Suddenly, I learned I like playing on these kinds of courts. Hopefully, one day I can win the trophy.”

– No. 3 seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, during his on-court interview after reaching the European Open semifinal round.

 

Search

Brigitte Urban
Tennis photographer
camera lens

International Blogs

Michael Dickens

A Czech Legacy Continues With Its Latest Billie Jean King Cup Success

October 1, 2026

Florian Heer

Carlos Bernardes: Vom Schiedsrichterstuhl zum Challenger-Turnierdirektor

April 22, 2026

Podcast

Categories