The fourth match, the fourth win in a row. Raphael Collignon has surprisingly reached the quarter-finals of the 33rd TERRA WORTMANN OPEN. The world number 51 came out on top in the clash between qualifiers against Mattia Bellucci, winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. This makes Collignon only the eighth qualifier in the tournament’s history to reach the last eight.
On Thursday evening, a closely fought battle for the final quarter-final spot unfolded at the heristo-arena. In the first set, both players had several break points, but only Bellucci was able to capitalise on one of his chances to take a 2–1 lead. After 41 minutes, the Italian converted his first set point to take the set 6–4.
Collignon, who is coached by former Belgian professional Steve Darcis, served much better in the second set and gave his opponent very few opportunities. Leading 5–4, he then earned himself a 0–40 lead and, with it, three set points. The second was successful, meaning a third set would decide the match.
The trend continued in this set. Collignon kept up the pressure, forcing Bellucci increasingly onto the back foot. In the second game, the Belgian failed to capitalise on his first break point, but after a change of ends, he finally seized the opportunity to make it 3–1. With some commanding service games, the 24-year-old then held on to his lead to see out the set.
Whilst the match against Bellucci, played later in the day, was no longer in front of a full house, Collignon can expect a very different atmosphere in the quarter-finals. On Friday (around 1 pm), he is set to face the newly crowned French Open champion, Alexander Zverev.
