Bonzi Keeps Rolling with Victory Over Opelka in Brussels
Giron Triumphs Over Bellucci on Opening Day of ATP 250
October 13, 2025
Jasper Jacobs/Belga Mag/AFP via Getty Images
Benjamin Bonzi Edges Out Reilly Opelka Again in Brussels
By Andy West
In a thrilling rematch, Benjamin Bonzi once again showcased his skills against Reilly Opelka, securing a victory at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open on Monday. This marks the second time this month that Bonzi has outplayed the towering American.
Just 11 days after his straight-sets win in Shanghai, Bonzi clinched a 6-4, 6-4 success in Brussels, effectively neutralizing Opelka’s impressive serving with a stellar performance. Bonzi went on a critical five-game surge from 3-3 in the first set, completing the match in 70 minutes at this indoor hard-court ATP 250 tournament, despite facing 13 aces from his opponent.
“Playing someone recently definitely helps, as I understood his serving patterns,” Bonzi noted during his on-court interview. “However, the conditions here are entirely different than in Shanghai. It’s much faster indoors, making his serve even more lethal.”
“I’m thrilled with how effectively I returned his serves and capitalized on the rallies when I could get the ball back in play. It was a fantastic opening match here,” he added.
Now standing at 14-19 for the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Bonzi is set to face either sixth seed Sebastian Baez or fellow Frenchman Valentin Royer in the next round. The 29-year-old aims to extend his impressive indoor performance record: he concluded the 2024 season with a remarkable 21-1 run indoors, which was capped off by winning his first ATP Tour title in Metz.
Marcos Giron also celebrated a successful match on Monday in Brussels, defeating Mattia Bellucci with a score of 6-3, 6-4. This win sets him up for a clash against fourth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, a rival against whom Giron has struggled previously, having not won a set in two prior encounters, though they haven’t faced off since the 2023 US Open.
