By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday October 17, 2023
Stefanos Tsitsipas eased past dangerous Botic van de Zandschulp to reach the last eight in Antwerp.
Photo Source: European Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas made a successful return to the European Open in Antwerp, notching a 7-5, 6-3 win over Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp – after rallying from 4-2 down in the opener Tsitsipas won 11 of the final 15 games to book his 44th win of the 2023 campaign and set a date with Yannick Hanfmann.
Hanfmann has now won consecutive tour-level wins on hard courts for the first time in career and reached his first ATP Tour QF on the surface after defeating Dominic Thiem 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
I didn't have the best start that I would have expected but what a great way to end it," Tsitsipas said after his win over the World No.67. "I was trying to get in there despite the early break and found a really good way through towards the very end. I felt like every point was a fight; every game there was an opportunity to do something. I was trying to maintain that consistency and work towards the victory."
Tsitsipas saved four of five break points in the opening set then dialed up his serve and did not face another break point the rest of the way – he will bid to win back-to-back matches for the first time since he won his lone title of 2023 in Los Cabos this summer.
Elsewhere in Antwerp, Hugo Gaston saved three match points to earn a dramatic victory over Jan-Lennard Struff, 5-7 7-6(5) 7-6(11), while Max Marterer topped Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6(3).