Antwerp, October 22, 2021 – On Friday, the quarterfinals of the European Open were completed. Lloyd Harris, Jannik Sinner and Diego Schwartzman forced their way into the semi-finals. Jenson Brooksby and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina are currently deciding who catches the last semi-final ticket.
The starting signal of day six was given by Mahut/Martin and Molchanov/Nedovyesov. In the first semifinal of the doubles, the French duo Mahut/Martin, who eliminated earlier this tournament the Belgians Gillé and Vliegen, were the first to qualify for the final of the doubles. They won with 7/6 and 6/2.
The second match was a battle between South African Lloyd Harris and Hungarian Marton Fucsovics. Lloyd Harris seems unstoppable this tournament, both in doubles and singles. In the first set, Harris was able to break Fucsovics’ serve twice and took the set with a score of 6/2. Fucsovics leveled up his level in the second set and was able to keep pace with Harris for a long time. However, the Hungarian had to keep his serve game at the end of the second set. Harris served out and won the match 6/2 and 7/5.
In the second quarterfinal of the European Open, Sinner played against French surprise Rinderknech. Sinner and Rinderknech met earlier this season on the tennis court in Lyon. Rinderknech then managed to beat the better-ranked Sinner. The Italian started quickly and was soon 4-1 ahead in the first set. Rinderknech fought back but Sinner took the first set: 6/4. The young Italian did not lose his momentum and broke early in the second set. With another break at the end of the second set it was game over for Rinderknech. Sinner won 6/4 and 6/2 to qualify for the semifinals.
The victory against Andy Murray was no coincidence. The Argentine Diego Schwartzman proved this by winning against Nakashima. In the first eight games Nakashima was put under pressure, but the American held on. After the first break late in the set, Schwartzman served a little later for the first set
with a lovegame. In the second set, he took an immediate lead. Nakashima only took a few more games. Schwartzman thus qualified for the semifinals with 6/4 and 6/2.
Jenson Brooksby and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina closed the Center Court. Brooksby who was playing his fifth match of the tournament continues to amaze. Spaniard Fokina remained a worthy opponent for Brooksby for a long time but still had to give up his serve at the end of set 1. Brooksby won the first set 7/5. Brooksby’s level remained too high in the second set for Fokina. Fokina lost set two and the match by 7/5 6/0.
