By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, October 18, 2025
Photo credit: Facebook Open European
Jiri Lehecka is back in the Belgian final.
Third-seeded Lehecka cruised to a 7-6(3), 7-6(7) semifinal victory over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard today to return to the European Open final for the second consecutive year.
This is Lehecka’s third final of the season after trips to the Brisbane and Queen’s Club title matches.
A year ago, Lehecka fell to Roberto Bautista Agut in the European Open final in Antwerp. The tournament moved to Brussels this year and the check picked up where it left off.
Lehecka withstood 19 aces from the 6’7″ Frenchman today and countered with 11 aces of his own against no double faults in an 89-minute triumph.
World No. 17 Lehecka joins Diego Schwartzman as the only people to have reached multiple European Open tournaments.
Lehecka will play for his third career championship in tomorrow’s final against one of their second Felix Auger-Aliassime or Belgian Raphael Collignon ranked 90th.
In today’s second set match, Lehecka saved a set point at 6-7 with a gutsy serve and then dropped a shot for the second match point.
The big Frenchman tried to serve-and-volley but Lehecka made a forehand pass to end the match and ensure his return to the final.
