Seppi Upset Starts Inaugural European Open

Italian Andreas Seppi kicked off the inaugural European Open in Antwerp on Monday with a 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-3 upset against eighth seed Federico Delbonis. The 32-year-old Seppi will next face Robin Haase, who beat Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 6-2.

Seppi will look to turn around his season in Belgium this week. He has fallen to No. 100 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, his lowest ranking since 9 July, 2007 when he was No. 111.

Spaniard Inigo Cervantes set up a second-round contest with Frenchman Richard Gasquet after outlasting 36-year-old German qualifier Michael Berrer 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in one hour and 32 minutes. The third-seeded Gasquet is going for his second ATP World Tour title of the season. He beat Mathieu in February for the Montpellier title.

Home favourite David Goffin, Belgium’s No. 1, leads the Antwerp field. Goffin has posted a 10-3 record since the US Open, including a semi-final run in Metz, a finalist showing in Tokyo and a last eight appearance at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. If the 25 year old wins his home tournament on Sunday, he’ll rise to No. 9 in the Emirates ATP Race To London. The top eight at the end of the season will qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, to be held 13-20 November at The O2 in London.

Who’s Close To Goffin? View The Emirates ATP Race To London Standings