The last qualification matches were completed today in the Lotto Arena and the main draw was launched. Furthermore, some players stunted at the Havenhuis and some meet and greets took place in the Fan Zone.
First main draw matches.
The matches of the day then: the first victory of the day was for Brandon Nakashima. The American won with a convincing score (6/2 6/4) from Pierre-Hugues Herbert. Nakashima is not the only American who had success today, because after him it was up to Jenson Brooksby, the number five of the Next Gen ranking. He managed to secure victory too, defeating Norbert Gombos in two sets (6/4 and 6/2).
Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech -who made the third biggest jump in the ATP Top-100 table in 2020, from place 178 to place 65- dropped some handsome points in his match against Argentine Federico Delbonis. The first set ended 4/6 in favor of the Frenchman. Delbonis also had to acknowledge the superiority in the second set: it was again 4/6 for the 26-year-old Frenchman.
Another Frenchman played next on Center Court: Richard Gasquet looked the Serbian Dusan Lajovic in the eye. Gasquet climbed 2/1 into the lead, but Lajovic immediately provided a rebreak. It was the beginning of a very exciting first set. A tiebreak brought the decision: Gasquet could turn a 0/4 deficit into 3/4, but it was ultimately Lajovic who took the first set with 3/7 in the tiebreak. In the second set, Lajovic went through the service of the former winner of the European Open already in the first game. He further extended this early lead to 1/6.
Media stunt
Monday was Media Day of the European Open. Some of the players competed in the Dick Norman Challenge to get the tournament started in a fun way at het Havenhuis. Zizou Bergs, Frances Tiafoe and Jannik Sinner gathered at the water’s edge to hit balls to Dick Norman, who was standing in a boat.
Andy Murray also took time to speak to the press. In the press conference, he talked about the Belgian football team, the city of Antwerp and learned some Dutch phrases.
Fan Zone
The first school day also took place. Several classes visited the Lotto Arena in the afternoon to watch some matches. Afterwards, the schoolchildren could gather on the padel court to ask questions to Xavier Malisse.
Today, Alex de Minaur settled down in the Fan Zone for a signing session. The Australian also took the time to have his picture taken with the many school children that had come to visit.