Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor claimed the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open 2026 title on Sunday, defeating Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a hard-fought final at Brussels Expo. The victory made Griekspoor the first Dutch player to win the tournament and secured the fourth ATP singles title of his career. German-American duo Constantin Frantzen and Robert Galloway claimed the doubles crown.
The 11th edition of the tournament also marked a successful week for the organisers, welcoming more than 40,000 spectators to Brussels Expo. “We made history this year,” said Tennium CEO Kristoff Puelinckx.
Both finalists had produced strong performances on their way to Sunday’s final. The 36-year-old Struff opened his campaign with a victory over American Marcos Giron before eliminating Belgian players Gauthier Onclin and home favourite Zizou Bergs. In the semi-finals, the German caused an upset by defeating top seed Arthur Fils in a closely contested three-set encounter.
Griekspoor also impressed throughout the week. The 30-year-old Dutchman began his campaign with a win over Germany’s Max Schönhaus before defeating Argentina’s Mariano Navone. He then overcame two-time finalist Jiri Lehecka in three sets in the quarter-finals, followed by another hard-fought three-set victory over Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in the semi-finals.
The final proved to be another closely contested battle. In front of a packed crowd at Brussels Expo, Struff made the stronger start, breaking serve in the fifth game to take control of the opening set. Griekspoor was unable to recover the deficit, and an error from the Dutchman handed Struff the first set 6-4.
Griekspoor responded strongly in the second set, increasing the pressure and using his effective backhand slice to disrupt Struff’s rhythm. The tactic paid off in the eighth game, when he secured the decisive break before closing out the set 6-3 with an ace.
With the title at stake, the deciding set remained closely contested. Neither player was able to establish a clear advantage until the ninth game, when Struff sent two smashes into the net and dropped serve. Griekspoor then served for the championship, holding his nerve to close out the set 6-4 and become the first Dutch champion in the history of the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open.
Tallon Griekspoor: “Winning a tournament so close to home is very special. I’ve spent many years training here, so it really feels like a home tournament for me. The final was a tough battle that could have gone either way. I’m happy I was able to produce my best tennis when it mattered most. This title is a wonderful reward for all the hard work.”
Frantzen and Galloway claim doubles title after closely contested final
The doubles final saw French-Dutch pair Sadio Doumbia and Bart Stevens take on German-American duo Constantin Frantzen and Robert Galloway.
There was little to separate the two teams from the outset. Neither pair managed to gain a decisive advantage, sending the opening set into a tie-break. Doumbia and Stevens came out on top, with Stevens sealing the set 7-6(4) with a well-executed volley.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with both teams holding firm on serve. Frantzen and Galloway eventually made the breakthrough in the ninth game, securing a crucial break before taking the set 6-4 and forcing a match tie-break.
The deciding tie-break remained closely contested until the final points. Frantzen and Galloway ultimately prevailed 10-8 to secure the title, marking a successful first tournament together as a pair.
Tournament organisers reflect on successful edition
Kristoff Puelinckx, CEO of Tennium: “We made history this year. What we achieved this week is unprecedented for a tennis tournament. We didn’t just relocate the Centre Court; we also had to rebuild the stands and all the surrounding infrastructure. It was a major operation, made possible by the dedication of our teams here and in Barcelona. I’m extremely proud of everyone involved. The tournament itself was also a great success, attracting large numbers of tennis fans. We added an extra day of play this year, while Belgian Day continues to grow in popularity year after year. We want to continue offering this unique premium experience to Belgian tennis fans in the years ahead.”
Dick Norman, Tournament Director of the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open: “This was a special edition in many ways, not least because of David Goffin’s farewell and the move to a new venue for the final weekend. Thanks to excellent preparation, everything went smoothly, and I’m extremely proud of the entire team. We can look back on a highly successful edition, with more than 40,000 spectators attending the tournament, around 4,000 more than last year. Last year’s edition was already a success, but we’ve taken another step forward. More and more tennis fans are finding their way to our tournament, which is very encouraging. The tribute to David Goffin was undoubtedly one of the highlights. It was a wonderful and emotional moment, and David clearly enjoyed it as well.”
Looking ahead to 2027, Tennium remains committed to developing premium sporting events that combine world-class tennis with memorable experiences for fans, players and partners. Building on the success of the 2026 edition, the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open will continue to evolve and deliver an outstanding tournament experience for Belgian tennis fans.
