The final qualifying round at the ATP 250 in Brussels wraps up with some intriguing matchups, as players battle for a place in the main draw. Conditions have been on the quicker side all week, rewarding first-strike tennis, but consistency and composure under pressure could still prove decisive. Main draw action also begins with two matches featuring proven Tour-level talent and players looking to make their mark. Who do you back to progress?
ATP Brussels Day 1 Predictions
Eliot Spizzirri vs Alexander Blockx
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Both players are meeting for the first time and arrive here with contrasting paths through qualifying. Blockx has played some confident tennis this week, showing good control off both wings and maintaining his focus in pressure moments. Spizzirri has been more up and down but carries the type of explosive power that can quickly turn a match around. This could come down to who steadies their serve and shot selection when the rallies tighten.
Prediction: Blockx in 3
Nikoloz Basilashvili vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Basilashvili’s all-out aggression meets Herbert’s creativity in a clash of styles. The Georgian’s ability to flatten out his shots and take time away will test Herbert’s variety, but the Frenchman’s net play and experience in doubles give him options to disrupt that rhythm. Both have had mixed results this season, making momentum management the key factor in this one.
Prediction: Basilashvili in 2
Marcos Giron vs Mattia Bellucci
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Giron’s year has been less than ideal. The consistency that has formed the bedrock of his success has gone missing of late, with the American struggling to make deep runs at most events he’s entered. Bellucci can be a tough customer even away from his favored clay, using his lefty angles and heavy topspin to unsettle opponents. Still, Giron’s experience and cleaner ball-striking on hard courts could give him the edge if he finds his rhythm early.
Prediction: Giron in 3
Reilly Opelka vs Benjamin Bonzi
Head-to-Head: Opelka 1–1 Bonzi
Opelka is still searching for a turnaround after a brutal summer where he has failed to win a match since his third-round run in Cincinnati, running into elite opponents along the way. That stretch ended with a straight-sets loss in Shanghai to none other than Bonzi, whom he faces again here. The American will be eager to flip that result, but Bonzi’s returning skills and consistency off the ground make him a tricky challenge once more. Small margins are likely to decide this repeat encounter.
Prediction: Bonzi in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
