Medvedev crashes out of Rotterdam Open as Bellucci advances

Daniil Medvedev crashed out of the Rotterdam Open on Wednesday evening, losing 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 to qualifier Mattia Bellucci.

The No.2 seed had been on the second line of title betting across most tennis bookmakers, but he was outplayed by the world No.92 over the course of the two-hour, 55-minute clash.

Bellucci produced some of his best tennis in what was his first win over a top-10 opponent, consistently finding sharp angles and defending relentlessly to defuse Medvedev’s baseline game.

This included multiple successful underarm serves, which the Italian reflected on after the match.

“I really tried to enjoy every minute of it,” he said.

“I tried to have fun on court and be myself as much as possible.

“I hit the serve and volley a bit and hit the underarm serve.

“I wanted to be myself and I saw him far back.

“I really think it is something I used to move him a little bit from there.

“I don’t want to be disrespectful.

“I felt that I had to enjoy every moment of this match.

“This is a big result so I will enjoy it.”

Medvedev’s loss puts top seed Carlos Alcaraz as the firm favourite to win the Rotterdam Open, with top sports betting sites paying +105 for him to claim the title.

Next in outright betting is Australia’s Alex de Minaur, who sits at +500 to bag his first trophy of the year, before odds lengthen significantly to +1100 for Arthur Fils, Andrey Rublev, Holger Rune or Hubert Hurkacz to prevail.

Bellucci himself is still at long odds to win his maiden ATP title, paying +2500 at Bovada.

He will take on the winner of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Tallon Griekspoor in the quarter-finals.

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