Top seed change in Brussels tournament

The ATP 250 in Brussels, set for October 19 to 25, has announced its draw with Arthur Fils now as the top seed after two major players withdrew. Casper Ruud and defending champion Félix Auger-Aliassime had not yet officially confirmed their participation, allowing Fils to take the top spot. This positions Fils well as he aims to collect points for the ATP Finals in Turin later in the season.

Other top seeds and early matches

Among the other top seeds are Jiri Lehecka, Francisco Cerundolo, and Alexander Blockx, who will start their tournament in the second round. The 8th-ranked player in the Race to Turin will face Jaume Munar, recalling their match at Roland-Garros in 2025, or a qualifier. Possible quarterfinal and semifinal matches could include Alex Michelsen, Zizou Bergs, or Alexander Blockx.

French players in the draw

Hugo Gaston, the only other Frenchman directly in the draw, will begin against Jacob Fearnley. If he advances, he could face Botic van de Zandschulp or Kamil Majchrzak. Among the invitees, Holger Rune will face Raphaël Collignon in an early match, potentially leading to a confrontation with Lehecka.

Invitees and potential matchups

David Goffin, also an invitee, will face a qualifier in his opening match and could meet Arthur Fils in the quarterfinals if both reach that stage. The draw sets up several intriguing potential matchups as the tournament approaches.