Antwerp, October 16 2021 – The 2021 European Open will start immediately with some top matches. “I’m looking forward to play against Bergs, a local”, Harris looks ahead to his first round match.
The sixth edition of the European Open begins on Sunday, October 17. The first round will already provide instant excitement at the Lotto Arena. 46-time ATP title winner Andy Murray (ATP-121) will take on 23-year-old American Frances Tiafoe (ATP-49) on center court in the first evening match on Tuesday, October 19 (not before 6:30 p.m.). Also eye-catching: Zizou Bergs (ATP-188) will play against Lloyd Harris (ATP-31), Xavier Malisse’s South African pupil, in his opening match.
“It’s a challenge to come out immediately against Zizou Bergs, someone from the area here. I’m looking forward to playing against him,” Lloyd Harris said in a first reaction. “This will be a great duel immediately”, believes tournament director Dick Norman. “But I expect even more spectacle in the first round, because we have managed to present some top players for this sixth edition of the European Open.”
Antwerp native and man in form Michaël Geerts will play a real home game on Sunday (not before 3 p.m.) against No. 5 on the Next Gen list, none other than Jenson Brooksby (ATP-79). Gauthier Onclin (ATP-524) will kick off the European Open on Sunday at noon, against Italian Andreas Seppi (ATP-93). Brandon Nakashima (ATP-83) versus Fernando Verdasco (ATP-137) is the other notable match that day. Really a lot of great matches on the first day of qualifications, as 18-year-old top talent, Dane Holger Rune (ATP-124) will also play on Sunday. This against Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert (ATP-100).
Frenchman Richard Gasquet (ATP-81) faces Dusan Lajovic (ATP-35) on Monday in the last but one match of the day. Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp (ATP-66) will next play against Alexei Popyrin (ATP-71) in the first round. Albert Ramos-Viñolas (ATP-48) will face German Jan-Lennard Struff (ATP-54). Alex de Miñaur (ATP-27), Reilly Opelka (ATP-20) and Benoit Paire (ATP-50) meet a qualifier in the first round.
