Top Seed Fils Beats Michelsen to Reach Brussels Semifinal, Struff Ends Belgian Hopes
Arthur Fils won his first match of the week 6-4, 7-6(12) over Alex Michelsen to reach the Brussels semifinals, where he will meet 36-year-old Jan-Lennard Struff, who ended home hopes by beating Zizou Bergs.
Top seed Arthur Fils opened his account at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Brussels on Friday with a 6-4, 7-6(12) victory over Alex Michelsen to reach the semifinals.
The Frenchman, playing his first match of the week, held his nerve in a tense second-set tiebreak to close out Michelsen — the same American who had ended David Goffin's 18-year career in front of a tearful home crowd the previous evening.
Awaiting Fils in the semifinal is veteran Jan-Lennard Struff. The 36-year-old German produced one of the day's standout results, defeating sixth seed Zizou Bergs 6-3, 7-6(6) to extinguish the last home interest in the draw and deny Belgian fans another deep run.
Struff has been one of the tour's most respected competitors for over a decade, and his booming serve proved too much for Bergs in the decisive moments of both sets.
The semifinal between Fils and Struff promises an intriguing contrast — the youthful top seed against the battle-hardened veteran — with a place in the Brussels final at stake.