The 2024 European Open is nearing its final. On Saturday, the semi-finals were completed: in the first semi-final, Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut (ATP-60) defeated Frenchman Hugo Gaston (ATP-77); in the other semi-final, Czech Jiri Lehecka (ATP-33) was too strong for American Marcos Giron (ATP-31). In the doubles, the American-Kazakh duo Galloway (ATP-38)-Nedovyesov (ATP-57) reached the final. In it, they take on Austrian duo Erler (ATP-54) – Miedler (ATP-68).
Frenchman Hugo Gaston (ATP-77) surprised by beating first seed De Minaur (ATP-9) in the quarterfinals, but had a difficult start to his semi-final. Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut (ATP-60), a former semi-finalist at Wimbledon, started strongly and soon broke through his opponent’s serve. The Frenchman did try, partly by making his 36-year-old opponent run, but could not avoid the first set going to his opponent. (6-3)
In the second set the same game picture. Roberto Bautista Agut (ATP-60) broke through Gaston’s (ATP-77) serve at 2-1 and did not surrender the lead. (6-4) The Spaniard thus reached the 23rd ATP final of his career and entered the top-50 in the ATP rankings with this victory. He is also the first ever Spanish finalist in Antwerp.
In the second semi-final, Jiri Lehecka (ATP-33), the fifth seed, and Marcos Giron (ATP-31), the eighth seed, faced each other. Lehecka had knocked out favourite Tsitsipás the day before, while Giron beat our compatriot Zizou Bergs (ATP-69). Both players impressed in their quarter-finals and provided entertaining sightings in this match as well. Lehecka (ATP-33), maintained his good form and continued to push through to win the set after a quick break in the third game. (6-3)
In the second set, American Giron (ATP-31) showed what he is made of, he in turn troubled the Czech. He limited the error rate and went through his opponent’s serve at the end of the second set. (6-4) A third set had to bring the decision.
There, the dice quickly fell to Lehecka’s (ATP-33) side. The fifth seed went through the American’s serve already in the first game and eventually did not hand that advantage back. The Czech, who has been serving strongly all tournament, won the decisive set 6-2 and is in an ATP Final for the third time in his career.
In the clash between finalists Roberto Bautista Agut (ATP-60) and Jiri Lehecka (ATP-33), it is currently 3-1 for the Spaniard, but the Czech did win the last clash in 2024 (Beijing).
Doubles tournament: Galloway-Nedovyesov reach final
In doubles, the second semi-final was completed today. In it, the American-Kazakh duo Galloway (ATP-38)-Nedovyesov (ATP-57) smoothly took the edge over Dutchmen Haase (ATP-71) and Pel (ATP-177) in two sets. (6-2, 6-3)
They will take on Austrians Erler (ATP-54) and Miedler (ATP-68) in the final tomorrow, who sent home Belgians Gillé and Vliegen earlier in tournament.