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NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 16: Billy Harris of Great Britain plays a forehand against Charles Broom of Great Britain during the Men's Singles Semi Final match on Day Seven of the Rothesay Open Nottingham at Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre on June 16, 2024 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images for LTA)

Tennis | ATP Shanghai 2024 | Harris gets second chance in Shanghai, takes on qualifier Bellucci in main draw opener

Tony Fairbairn
Tennis

By Tony Fairbairn

  • Billy Harris [LL] v Mattia Bellucci [Q]
  • H2H: First Meeting
SHANGHAI, CHINA – Billy Harris gets the lucky loser spot in Shanghai and aims to win his first Masters 1000 main draw match against Mattia Bellucci in China.

 

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Billy Harris [LL] v Mattia Bellucci [Q] H2H & Match Fundamentals

Billy Harris [LL] v Mattia Bellucci [Q]         H2H: First Meeting
ATP Shanghai 2024    Shanghai, China  
Hard (O) Prize Money $23,250
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Billy Harris gets his chance to show what he can do at Masters 1000 level as he receives a lucky loser spot in the main draw and faces Mattia Bellucci in the opening round.

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2024)

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H2H: Billy Harris (WR 104) Mattia Bellucci (WR 103)   
Tournament Previous Best N/A N/A
1st Serve % 61.5 61.9
Service Games Won % 82.3 86.1
Break Points Saved % 65.8 70.4
2nd Serve Return Points Won % 46.9 49.3
Break Points Converted % 37.5 35.7

Harris will aim to maintain his consistency on serve as there is not much to separate the two players heading into this clash.

 

 

Playing Styles and Prediction

Bellucci showed signs of promise during his opening round defeat to Jack Draper in Tokyo in what has been an underwhelming season. The Italian will look to use that performance to build confidence as the race to gaining a direct entry into the Australian Open is well and truly on.

Harris will continue to be aggressive on the first serve as he will use the forehand to dictate play from the baseline. Bellucci will look to be aggressive on return as he searches for deep shots in order to force shorter balls from Harris. This will be a good test for Harris but the Brit’s more stable confidence off both forehand and backhand should secure him a tight victory.

Prediction: Harris in three sets.

 

Thiago Seyboth Wild def Dan Evans [Q] 6-2 4-6 7-6(3)

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It was first round heartbreak for Dan Evans as he lost a last set tiebreak to Thiago Seyboth Wild in Shanghai. Evans played a poor first set in a fiery encounter in which the Brit was fuming at one person in the crowd.

The Brit refused to take life advice from the spectator but responded by breaking at the start of the second set. Then it was the Brazilian’s turn to let off some steam as he ranted at the umpire and at Evans before the Brit comfortably took the second set.

At one set all it looked like Evans was going to claim victory especially when the qualifier took a 4-2 lead. However a double fault saw the break go back to Seyboth Wild and the Brazilian held his nerve to secure a tight victory.

Evans will now play the qualifying event at the ATP 250 in Almaty, Kazakhstan which starts on the 14th of October.

 

 

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