Mattia Bellucci, the 23-year-old Italian qualifier, pulled off a stunning victory over former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in the third round of the Rotterdam ATP tournament on Wednesday. Bellucci triumphed 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 to claim his first-ever win against a top 10 opponent, securing a spot in the quarterfinals. The left-hander, currently ranked a career-high No. 92, showed resilience and determination throughout the three-hour match.
Bellucci reflected on the intense contest, expressing both fatigue and satisfaction. "It was a three-hour match and I really enjoyed every moment of it. I really tried to do the best I could. I'm pretty tired but I'm happy," he said. Despite being out of his comfort zone, Bellucci utilized a serve-and-volley strategy that proved effective against Medvedev, a tactic he doesn’t typically rely on.
In a tense final set, Bellucci maintained his composure, saving six break points after missing a match point in the second-set tiebreak. He will now face either sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor in the next round, with a spot in the semifinals on the line. Medvedev, who had previously beaten Stan Wawrinka in the first round, has had a challenging start to 2025, following his early exit from the Australian Open last month.
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