Lehecka, last year’s finalist, ignites Brussels revenge bid

  • Posted: Oct 15, 2025

The BNP Paribas Fortis European Open may have relocated from Antwerp to Brussels for the 2025 edition, but that won’t stop Jiri Lehecka in his title quest on the indoor hard courts.

The third seed and last year’s finalist opened his campaign on Wednesday with a classy 6-3, 6-2 win against #NextGenATP Belgian Gilles Arnaud Bailly to reach the quarter-finals. Lehecka slammed 11 aces en route to a 27th hard-court victory of the season — the fifth-most on the ATP Tour.

“Last year, this tournament was a good success for me,” said Lehecka, who is now 5-1 at the Belgian ATP 250 event, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. “I’m very happy to be here in front of the Belgian fans and I’m happy with my performance today.”

Bailly, 18, claimed his maiden ATP Tour win against Daniel Altmaier on Tuesday and rose five spots to 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. However, he was unable to contain the World No. 17 Lehecka, who is competing just one place below his career-high No. 16.

Into his seventh tour-level quarter-final of the season, Lehecka will next face Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who accelerated past countryman Valentin Royer 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-1.

Qualifiers Yannick Hanfmann and Nikoloz Basilashvili, who are tied with Ethan Quinn for the most successful qualifications (8) on the ATP Tour this season, both booked their spots in the second round of the main draw on Wednesday. Hanfmann rallied past Matteo Arnaldi 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 to set a meeting with top seed Lorenzo Musetti, while Basilashvili brushed off Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-4.

Damir Dzumhur advanced to a clash with second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime after moving past #NextGenATP wild card Federico Cina 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(3). The 18-year-old Cina is, however, 14th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah and still has an outside shot at debuting at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah in December.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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