European Open welcomes Hurkacz (ATP-10) and third Grand Slam winner Murray!

The European Open has upgraded its list of participants once again: Hubert Hurkacz (ATP-10) and three (!) Grand Slam winners will be seen at the European Open (Oct. 16-23): after Stan Wawrinka and Dominic Thiem, Andy Murray will also play the tournament! Russian Karen Khachanov (ATP-18), who battled for a place at the US Open final, is also coming back to Antwerp.

With the Pole Hubert Hurkacz, the European Open convinced another fantastic name to play the tournament. “Hubert completely broke through last season, with three tournament wins and especially a semi-final at Wimbledon. On his way to the semi-final, he won against Federer and Medvedev, among others”, says tournament director Dick Norman. “This also immediately qualified him for the ATP Finals (formerly the Masters), where only the top eight players in the world are allowed to participate. This year he defeated Medvedev in the Halle final, as well as winner of the 2020 European Open Humbert, Auger-Aliassime and Kyrgios. He has a very variable and attractive style of play on all surfaces: he is tremendously strong on the baseline, but his serve and volley play are also phenomenal.”

Andy Murray (ATP-43), the 2019 European Open winner, is thrilled to be back in Antwerp. Murray recently made it to the third round of the US Open. “Andy achieved the 700th victory of his career at this year's Indian Wells tournament. The Scot is only the fourth still active player to succeed in this”, Dick Norman underlined. “Tennis coach Ivan Lendl has taken Andy Murray under his wing. Murray won three grand slam titles in the past alongside this tennis legend. With Lendl, Murray also won two Olympic gold medals and became the world’s number one. A renewed partnership should help Murray return to the top after a long injury, and we can become an important chapter in this story.”

Two other top players, who looked each other in the eye in Antwerp in 2020, are also again playing the European Open. Daniel Evans (ATP-25) won that year against Karen Khachanov (ATP-18) in three sets and the Briton went through to the semi-finals. Khachanov (ATP-18) qualified this year for the semi-finals of the US Open in New York. He defeated Nick Kyrgios (ATP-20) in five sets. The 26-year-old former world number eight was thus in the semi-finals of a grand slam tournament for the first time in his career, and now wants to make his mark again in Antwerp.

Is the fourth time a charm, Diego Schwartzman? The 30-year-old Argentine (ATP-17) could reach the final at the European Open for the fourth time this year, after 2016, 2017 and 2021. “Diego finally wants to get that victory in Antwerp”, Norman said. "Each time he plays a brilliant tournament, now he wants to break that streak. With opponents -a mix of young power and experience including Auger-Aliassime, Murray, Wawrinka, Thiem, Goffin, Khachanov and lots of others- it won't be an easy challenge.”