Stefanos Tsitsipas Stunned In Rotterdam Open Quarter-Final By Qualifier Bellucci
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Stefanos Tsitsipas' good week at the 2025 Rotterdam Open ended in the quarter-finals on the racket of qualifier Mattia Bellucci.
Tsitsipas has been in search of a good result for quite some time. After losing already in the opening round of the Australian Open, it seemed like the Greek player was gifted a chance for a big result at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam.
He did extremely well to win his first two matches. Tsitsipas first beat Harold Mayot and then he also outplayed home player Tallon Griekspoor.
In the initial quarter-final projection, the second-seeded Daniil Medvedev was supposed to be Tsitsipas' quarter-final opponent. However, the Russian player stunningly lost to qualifier Mattia Bellucci, who was the Greek's quarter-final opponent instead.
Taking on the ATP World No. 92 player instead of the former World No. 1 might have seemed like a lucky break for Tsitsipas and a perfect chance to reach the semi-finals in Rotterdam. But Bellucci had his own ideas.
The 23-year-old Italian player beat three Dutch players in Rotterdam. He first bested 16-year-old Thijs Boogaard in the first round of the qualifying, and then he beat Gijs Brouwer in the second round of the qualifying.
In the first round of the main draw, Bellucci bested 17-year-old wild card Mees Rottgering, and then he recorded the impressive win over Medvedev. He was impressive in the quarter-finals as well.
Bellucci had the first break point of the match already in the opening game. He couldn't use that chance, and a few games later, he had to save a break point himself.
Down 2-3, the Italian player trailed 30-40, but he saved the break point and won the game. But a couple of games later, he once again faced a break point. But Tsitsipas couldn't convert again, and that cost him.
The Greek player was broken in the next game, and he fell behind 4-5. Bellucci served for the set, but he faced another break point. But again, the Italian player saved it and won the first set of the match 6-4.
Tsitsipas couldn't use his chances in the first set, and that's what ultimately cost him the win. Both players had four break points, but while he couldn't use any, his opponent used at least one, which is why the two-time Grand Slam finalist lost the set.
After winning the first set, Bellucci seemingly grew in confidence. The left-handed player was using his serve really well, winning 93% of points after his first serve.
Surprisingly, the Italian player didn't face a single break point in the second set, and he even broke his opponent's serve twice. Bellucci was just the better player on the court, and that's why he won the match 6-4, 6-2, in only an hour and 25 minutes.
It was another impressive win for the young Italian, whose sensational run in Rotterdam continues. He now secured his new career high, as he's set to rise to at least the World No. 68 position. Tsitsipas' search for form, on the other hand, will continue.
