European Open welcomes Hurkacz (ATP-10) and third Grand Slam winner Murray!

With the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (25), the European Open convinced another fantastic name to play the
tournament. “Hubert completely broke through last season, with three tournament wins and especially a semi-final at Wimbledon. On his way to the semi-final, he won against Federer and Medvedev, among others”, says tournament director Dick Norman. “This also immediately qualified him for the ATP Finals (formerly the Masters), where only the top eight players in the world are allowed to participate. This year he defeated Medvedev in the Halle final, as well as the winner of the 2020 European Open Humbert, Auger-Aliassime, and Kyrgios. He has a very variable and attractive style of play on all surfaces: he is tremendously strong on the baseline, but his serve and volley play are also phenomenal.”

Andy Murray (ATP-43), the 2019 European Open winner, is thrilled to be back in Antwerp. Murray recently made it to the third round of the US Open. “Andy achieved the 700th victory of his career at this year’s Indian Wells tournament. The Scot is only the fourth still active player to succeed in this”, Dick Norman underlined. “Tennis coach Ivan Lendl has taken Andy Murray under his wing. Murray won three grand slam titles in the past alongside this tennis legend. With Lendl, Murray also won two Olympic gold medals and became the world’s number one. A renewed partnership should help Murray return to the top after a long injury, and we can become an important chapter in this story.”

Two other top players, who looked each other in the eye in Antwerp in 2020, are also again playing the European Open. Daniel Evans (ATP-25) won that year against Karen Khachanov (ATP-18) in three sets and the Briton went through to the semi-finals. Khachanov (ATP-18) qualified this year for the semi-finals of the US Open in New York. He defeated Nick Kyrgios (ATP-20) in five sets. The 26-year- old former world number eight was thus in the semi-finals of a grand slam tournament for the first time in his career, and now wants to make his mark again in Antwerp.

Is the fourth time a charm, Diego Schwartzman? The 30-year-old Argentine (ATP-17) could reach the final at the European Open for the fourth time this year, after 2016, 2017 and 2021. “Diego finally wants to get that victory in Antwerp”, Norman said. “Each time he plays a brilliant tournament, now he wants to break that streak. With opponents -a mix of young power and experience including Auger-Aliassime, Murray, Wawrinka, Thiem, Goffin, Khachanov and lots of others- it won’t be an easy challenge.”

“With this seventh edition we are again making great steps forward as an organization: we have some established values and also some fresh top tennis blood such as Auger-Aliassime and Bailly. Our sponsors find it crucial to help secure the growth of our tournament. On that note, we managed to attract a lot of new sponsors and retain loyal ones”, said Kristoff Puelinckx, CEO of Tennium “This reinforces the growth that Tennium is pursuing year after year and successfully going through without skipping steps. The drive in the team is once again very strong to make it a smashing edition. We guarantee top international tennis for the fans in safe conditions.”

“We can see the excitement has already got to our fans through our social media channels and in ticket sales, which are running very smoothly”, adds Ilse Van Parys, European Open’s Event Director. “We are once again focusing on experience on and off court, including numerous theme days (School Days, Kids Day…) and plenty of nice activations such as a real Wheelchair Tennis Showdown. Belgian Joachim Gérard (Grand Slam winner of the Australian Open and Wimbledon) and Dutch top players Maikel Scheffers and Tom Egberink, who took bronze at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, will provide a real tennis spectacle. We also want to fulfill our social role with verve by focusing on a good cause: this year we will put Think Pink, which fights against breast cancer, in the spotlight with numerous initiatives and on Saturday night an after-tennis party.”

“The European Open has become a fixture that makes Antwerp the centre of the sports capital of Flanders. This top event attends tennis fans at their every need and puts our city in the international spotlight”; said Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever. “We are very happy and proud to welcome it once again to our busy sporting calendar.”

“The European Open and city of Antwerp have been a successful match for seven years now. And thanks to tournament director Dick Norman and co: every edition again they open a can of absolute top players to serve tennis of the very highest level in the Lotto Arena”, said Peter Wouters, Deputy of Sport Antwerp. “Grand Slam winners Wawrinka and Thiem, two of the most graceful one-handed backhands on the circuit, are already making my tournament. But as deputy of sport, I mainly watch the return and hope that this top sporting event will stimulate the sinjoor to play some tennis. Because getting as many Antwerp people as possible to move and play sports, that is and remains the baseline of our sports policy.”

“Our Flemish athletes usually score high on the international sports stage, but the European Open has also repeatedly helped us to show their best side”, said Flemish Minister of Sport Ben Weyts. “With another impressive entry list, this year the public can get ready for a tennis spectacle in Antwerp once again.”

Zuhal Demir, Flemish Minister of Tourism: “Flanders has a long tennis tradition. Both on the court and in the stands. After last year’s successful edition, we want to provide a top spectacle once again by bringing top international tennis to Flanders. A Lotto Arena filled to the brim in October will be able to enjoy the best of national and international men’s tennis.”