The draw for the 2023 European Open has been released, and there is a lot to be excited about in terms of matches and projected matchups.
The 28-player singles field is led by Greek superstar Stefanos Tsitsipas, the top seed, and the only Top 10 player in the draw following the withdrawal of former champion Jannik Sinner. Main draw action will kick off on Monday, October 16th, and run till 22nd, in Belgium's port city, Antwerp.
In the top half of the draw, Stefanos Tsitsipas might open up his campaign against his US Open conqueror Dominic Stricker. The Swiss lefty stunned the Greek in five enthralling sets in New York, but he'll need to take care of his first-round opponent Botic van de Zandschulp before he can contemplate authoring another upset.
Still in the top half of the draw, Austria's Dominic Thiem will battle Italian wild card Luca Nardi, with the winner of that match potentially drawing Yannick Hanfmann. The German who has been much improved on all surfaces this year will start his Antwerp journey against a qualifier.
Fourth seed Arthur Fils has to be the happiest man in the field. The French teenager has enjoyed a fine start to life on the senior tour, winning a maiden ATP title in Lyon on red clay. Fils is an impressive 14-5 on indoor hard courts at all levels this season, streaking to lift the Oeiras Challenger under the roof at the start of the year.
Indeed, the indoor hard court is his cup of tea. The 19-year-old will await the winner of the match between Jaume Munar and Mark Lajal. A projected quarterfinal against Fabian Marozsan looks like his first big test before the semis, where he could play the top-seeded Tsitsipas.
The bottom half of the draw is a very open field. Second seed Jan-Lennard Struff and third seed Alexander Bublik are the heavy favorites to bulldoze their way into the latter stages. But neither of them has the wind in their sails. Struff has lost three in a row coming to Antwerp. Bublik, meanwhile, is winless on the ATP Tour since Wimbledon.
The German will play the winner of the all-French clash between Arthur Rinderknech and Hugo Gaston. As for Bublik, he will confront one of Gregoire Barrere or Daniel Elahi Galan. There is a main draw wild card for former World No. 7 David Goffin who is making his sixth visit at his home tournament. He has drawn big-serving Frenchman Quentin Halys.
2023 European Open Antwerp ATP Draw:
| 1. Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) |
| 2. BYE |
| 3. Dominic Stricker |
| 4. Botic van de Zandschulp |
| 5. Luca Nardi |
| 6. Dominic Thiem |
| 7. Qualifier |
| 8. Yannick Hanfmann (5) |
| 9. Arthur Fils (4) |
| 10. BYE |
| 11. Jaume Munar |
| 12. Mark Lajal |
| 13. Qualifier |
| 14. Alexander Shevchenko |
| 15. Fabian Marozsan |
| 16. Juan Pablo Varillas (8) |
| 17. Roberto Carballes Baena (6) |
| 18. Qualifier |
| 19. David Goffin |
| 20. Quentin Halys |
| 21. Gregoire Barrere |
| 22. Daniel Elahi Galan |
| 23. BYE |
| 24. Alexander Bublik (3) |
| 25. Richard Gasquet (7) |
| 26. Qualifier |
| 27. Nuno Borges |
| 28. Dominik Koepfer |
| 29. Arthur Rinderknech |
| 30. Hugo Gaston |
| 31. BYE |
| 32. Jan-Lennard Struff (2) |
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