Zizou Bergs exited the European Open in Brussels after a straight-sets defeat to Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, leaving the tournament without a local player in the final four. DHnet reported that the Belgian fell 6-3, 7-6(6) in the quarterfinals on Friday, ending home representation at the 11th edition of the ATP event.
Struff Eliminates the Last Home Contender in Brussels
The quarterfinal clash on the new center court—which migrated overnight from the ING Arena to Palais 5, as noted by L’Avenir—saw Bergs battle through fatigue. Despite saving two match points in a tense second-set tie-break to reach 6-6 while serving, Bergs succumbed to mounting pressure and unforced errors. J’ai déjà eu plus d’énergie mais je sens que, physiquement, je m’améliore chaque jour. J’ai confiance dans ma capacité à faire un bon match ce vendredi. La rencontre sera tardive, donc j’espère ne pas trop ressentir la fatigue. En tout cas, ce ne sera pas vraiment un match très physique contre Jan-Lennard. C’est un joueur très agressif, comme moi. Cela devrait donc aller,
he noted prior to facing the German world number 58, whom Bergs had previously defeated at Indian Wells in March after losing their very first duel.
Fils, Griekspoor, and Cerúndolo Complete the Semifinal Lineup
With Bergs’ elimination, the tournament guaranteed an overseas champion. Struff advanced to face Frenchman Arthur Fils in the semifinals. Fils secured his spot earlier by defeating American Alex Michelsen 6-4, 7-6(12) in a finish that brought the Frenchman closer to qualification for the ATP Finals.
The lower half of the draw features a matchup between Tallon Griekspoor and Francisco Cerúndolo. Griekspoor delivered one of the day’s major upsets by overcoming Jiri Lehecka 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, a turnaround after a difficult year that had dropped the Dutchman to the top 60 of the ATP rankings. Meanwhile, Cerúndolo advanced past qualifier Clement Chidekh 6-2, 6-4, halting the Frenchman’s run through the tournament.
Reflecting on Goffin’s Farewell and Looking Ahead
Before his quarterfinal exit, Bergs spent time reflecting on the retirement of compatriot David Goffin, calling the former world number seven a “grand monsieur” in quotes reported by L’Avenir, highlighting Goffin’s contributions to Belgian tennis and the Davis Cup.
Jan-Lennard Struff now moves on to face Arthur Fils in the penultimate round at the European Open in Brussels, while Francisco Cerúndolo meets Tallon Griekspoor for a place in the championship match.
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