The only all-seeded quarterfinal matchup on Friday in Antwerp pits No. 2 Stefanos Tsitsipas against No. 5 Jiri Lehecka. Felix Auger-Aliassime and Roberto Bautista Agut are also aiming for a place in the semifinals.
(5) Jiri Lehecka vs. (2) Stefanos Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas and Lehecka will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinals of the European Open on Friday. The head-to-head series stands at 2-1 in favor of Tsitsipas, but Lehecka dominated their most encounter 6-2, 6-4. Their previous indoor hard-court meeting came two years ago in Rotterdam, where the Greek got the job done 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
With only one title in 2024 (Monte-Carlo Masters), Tsitsipas is in distant Nitto ATP Finals contention at No. 12 in the race. He was just 4-6 in his last 10 matches heading into Antwerp before kicking off his week with a 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5 defeat of Thiago Seyboth Wild. That is not a particularly encouraging result against an opponent who is most comfortable on clay–especially not when a formidable hard-court player like Lehecka is up next. The 33rd-ranked Czech has improved to 26-15 this season with straight-set beatdowns of Jaume Munar and Daniel Altmaier. Lehecka is in superior form and should be able to beat Tsitsipas for a second straight time.
Pick: Lehecka in 2
(3) Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Roberto Bautista Agut
Auger-Aliassime has struggled throughout each of past three seasons–this one included–but pretty much saved his ranking with back-to-back Basel titles in 2022 and 2023. The 21st-ranked Canadian, who generally plays well on indoor hard courts, will be looking to do the same in 2024–if not in Basel then perhaps right now in Antwerp. He opened with a 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2 win over Marton Fucsovics.
Standing in Auger-Aliassime’s way of the semis is Bautista Agut, who trails the head-to-head series 3-2. Both of Bautista Agut’s victories have come indoors, including in their most recent meeting at the 2022 Astana event via a 6-4, 7-6(6) decision. That bodes well for the 36-year-old Spaniard’s chances in this one, plus he will be feeling good having already picked up two wins this week (in straight sets against both Luca Van Assche and Tomas Martin Etcheverry). As has been the case many times in recent seasons, Auger-Aliassime is definitely on upset alert.
Pick: Bautista Agut in 2
