After a stunning battle between the best male Belgian tennis player of the past decade, David Goffin, and the future of Belgian tennis, Gilles Arnaud Bailly, the 31-year-old will be back in action Thursday at the ATP European Open in Antwerp. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will win?
ATP Antwerp Day 4 Predictions
Karen Khachanov vs Sebastian Korda
Head-to-head: Khachanov 1-1 Korda
After an amazing run to the US Open semifinals and a return to the Top 20, Khachanov will be looking to finish the season strong on indoor hard. The Russian has had prior success on the surface, getting the biggest title of his career on indoor hard at the 2018 Paris-Bercy. In Khachanov’s only tournament since the US Open, he beat Maxime Cressy and Marin Cilic before running into Novak Djokovic in Astana. Korda is coming into this match with good form, reaching his third ATP final last week in Gijon. The 22-year-old did drop a set to Marcos Giron in the first round here but I expect him to push Khachanov all the way here. The two played out an amazing battle at Wimbledon last year, the Russian coming out on top 10-8 in the fifth set. Korda avenged that loss a few months ago, winning in straight sets in Cincinnati. It’s a tough call but I will go with the American here.
Prediction: Korda in 3
Dominic Thiem vs Francisco Cerundolo
Head-to-head: Thiem 1-0 Cerundolo
Thiem’s attempts to rebuild his ranking continue in Antwerp, where the former World No. 3 got a convincing 6-4 6-0 win over Belgian Michael Geerts. Last week, the Austrian impressed in Gijon as he reached the semifinals and only lost to Andrey Rublev. That was Thiem’s best run at an ATP event since Madrid 2021, a positive sign going forward. Cerundolo, one of the three players Thiem defeated in Gijon last week, got his first Top 100 win on indoor hard in the first round. The Argentine came back from a set down against Sofia champion Marc-Andrea Huesler. This is a good draw for Thiem to continue to earn points and gain confidence. Expect the former No. 3 to set up a quarterfinal clash against the top seed Hubert Hurkacz.
Prediction: Thiem in 2
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Manuel Guinard
Head-to-head: first meeting
After losing the first eight ATP finals Auger-Aliassime played in, it was indoor hard where the 22-year-old finally broke his duck early in the season. The Canadian won the ATP 500 in Rotterdam before the final of Marseille the very next week. Auger-Aliassime showed his spring performances indoors were not a fluke, lifting his second career title in Florence last week. He will now play his opening round against Guinard after receiving a bye. The Frenchman won the battle of the lucky losers against Geoffrey Blancaneaux in a tight match, 7-5 in the third. Guinard has been a solid Challenger player but the 26-year-old getting the win here would be a major shock.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 2
David Goffin vs Diego Schwartzman
Head-to-head: Goffin 3-1 Schwartzman
It has been a tough season for Goffin, the 31-year-old finding bright spots such as his Wimbledon quarterfinals run or a title in Marrakech but lacking consistency throughout the season and dropping out of the Top 50. Goffin, looking for his first Antwerp quarterfinal since 2017, had to battle through his first round. 17-year-old Gilles Arnaud Bailly, Junior No. 2 and two-time Junior slam finalist pushed the experienced to 6-4 in the third after three hours.
Three-time Antwerp finalist Schwartzman is looking to break a three-match losing streak and defend his finalist points from last year. The Argentine has also had an unconvincing season, especially outside of clay. Outside of their Laver Cup meeting, Goffin leads the head-to-head 3-1. However, Schwartzman’s only win came in Antwerp back in 2016. Despite that, I will slightly lean towards the Belgian here, though it is a close call.
Prediction: Goffin in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
