A day earlier, he was one game away from losing in the first round. Francisco Cerundolo, the 16th seed, broke at 4-4 in the second set, serving for the match, before the Frenchman broke back to win the tiebreak. The Argentine left 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-0 with a back problem in the third set.
How Rinderknecht beat Bellucci without a break point
The opening set went serve until Bellucci served for 4-5. Rinderknecht missed his first chance, also his first set-point, to capitalize on it in the 37th minute.
In the second and fourth games of the second set, the Frenchman raced to a 4-0 lead before holding on for 5-0. After Bellucci held, Rinderknecht served the game to love on his first game point.
He held all nine of his service games and converted three of his break points. She landed 88 percent of her first serves and won 81 percent of those points (34 of 42), with six aces and 18 winners and 12 unforced errors.
Rinderknecht now leads Bellucci 2-0 after beating Bellucci 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-1 in the quarterfinals at Atlanta 2024.
Bellucci defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 7-6 (3) and Thiago Agustin Tirante (6-4, 6-4). He then beat compatriot Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-3 for his first win in Paris. The Italian had won 16 of his 19 matches at all levels since September 28, a run that included the Challenger title in Jinan.
Rolex Paris Masters 2026 second round results
Alexander Zverev (1) vs Lorenzo Musetti (Wednesday)
Luca Van Aschen d. Student Ten (15) 7-6 (4), 6-4
Novak Djokovic (10) vs Rinki Hijikata (Q) (Wednesday)
Thomas Martin Etcheverry vs. Alex de Minaur (8) (Wednesday)
Ben Shelton (3) d. Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4
Arthur Rinderknech d. Mattia Bellucci (Q) 6-4, 6-1
Tommy Paul (12) d. Daniel Merida 6-1, 6-1
Quentin Hallis d. Francis Tiafoe (7) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (9)
Thiago Agustin Tirante (LL) vs Jan-Lennard Struff (SE) (Wednesday)
Casper Rood d. Rafael Jodar (9) 6-3, 6-4
Nuno Borges (LL) vs Karen Khachanov (Wednesday)
Ignacio Bus vs Daniil Medvedev (4) (Wednesday)
Arthur Fils (6) vs Tomas Machak (Q) (Wednesday)
Alex Molkan (Q) vs Taylor Fritz (11) (Wednesday)
Matteo Berettini vs Hugo Humbert (Wednesday)
Alex Michelsen vs Carlos Alcaraz (2) (Wednesday)
In bold. today’s results.