Mattia Bellucci in the quarterfinals in Marrakech

In the second round of the ATO on clay in Marrakech, Mattia Bellucci, world No. 71, beat Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert, No. 169, with a score of 6-2 7-5, advancing to the quarterfinals.

The first set is dominated by Bellucci, who has break points in Herbert’s first three service games and converts two of them, in the opening game of the match and at 3-1, in contrast he loses only three points in four games of serve.

In the second set, it is Herbert who first breaks Mattia’s serve in the fourth game but the 23-year-old born in Busto Arsizio takes it back immediately. Onk 5-5 there is the decisive break and Bellucci closes the match in the next game at the second chance.

In the quarterfinals Bellucci will face the tournament’s No. 1 seed, Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, and Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.