Day 2 at the Rotterdam ATP 500 opened with a dramatic three-set battle on Court 1, where Quentin Halys overcame a spirited challenge from Dutch youngster Mees Röttgering to secure his place in the next round.
First Set: Röttgering Stuns the Favorite
The match began with a surprise as 19-year-old home player Mees Röttgering, who reached the main draw after winning two qualifying matches — including an upset over Roberto Carballes Baena — showed no signs of nerves against the favored Frenchman.
Röttgering broke serve in the third game to move ahead 3–1 and continued to play aggressively. He struck again at 5–3, earning a second break to close out an impressive opening set 6–3, igniting the home crowd.
Second Set: Halys Raises His Level
Halys responded emphatically in the second set, shifting into a higher gear and playing with far more aggression. The Frenchman dominated the set with his serve and forehand, racing through it with three breaks of serve to claim the set 6–1.
Röttgering showed flashes of his first-set form only in his opening service game, but thereafter struggled to keep pace as Halys took control of the match.
Decisive Set: Halys Powers Through
In the deciding set, Halys asserted his authority from the outset. He surged to a commanding 5–0 lead, breaking Röttgering twice and leaving the Dutchman with a mountain to climb.
Röttgering showed resilience, saving four break points to hold serve and reduce the deficit to 5–1. He even earned three consecutive break points at 0–40 on Halys’ serve in the seventh game, but the Frenchman responded with five straight points to close out the match.
Halys’ serving proved decisive throughout the contest. He fired 11 aces compared to just 2 from Röttgering and finished with 34 winners to the Dutchman’s 23. While his aggressive approach led to more unforced errors (35 to 29), Halys’ firepower ultimately made the difference.
Despite the disappointment of seeing their young local player exit the tournament, the Rotterdam crowd applauded both players as Halys advanced.
For a full picture of how this match fits into the opening round in Rotterdam, see the complete first round draw