Quentin Halys was eliminated as soon as he entered the ATP 250 Tournament on Eastbourne, England, by French Mattia Bellucci.
There is only one Frenchman in the running at the Eastbourne tournament: Ugo Humbert. Quentin Halys was indeed eliminated as soon as he entered this Monday, by Mattia Bellucci, however less well classified than him (74th against 47th). The Italian player, whom the Frenchman faced for the very first time, remained on a terrible series of nine losses in a row (since April 6), but found the light arriving in the city of southern England. He crossed the two qualifying laps this weekend, before winning his first round match, on the score of 6-4, 6-2 in 1h8.
The Lombard, despite only 57% of the first balls, was not breaking during this meeting. He took Halys’ service at 2-2 in the first set, then saved his only break ball from the match in the next game. He then missed a 5-2 ball, and finally pocketed the round at 5-4 on his second set ball. On its momentum, Bellucci a breaké from the entrance to the second set. Halys resisted up to 2-3, but he then lost the last twelve points of the match, letting his opponent triumph. The Italian will face the Lucky-Loser Billy Harris (who replaced Giovanni Mpeshi Perricard, last minute package) or Cameron Norrie in the next round. Halys will take the way to London, to compete in his fourth Wimbledon. It remains on two eliminations in the third round, against Jannik Sinner then Holger Rune.
Fonseca at the rendezvous
This Monday was also marked by the qualification of the very promising Brazilian Joao Fonseca, 57th in the world at 18, who got out of Zizou Bergs after a 2:09 am fight where he missed three set balls in the tie-break of the first set, lost 10-8: 6-7, 6-0, 6-3. It also passes for Dan Evans, invited by the organizers, to the detriment of Miomir Kecmanovic: 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in 2h09.
