Botic van de Zandschulp steers new coach away, leaving Joao Fonseca upset at ATP Tour in Brussels

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Van der Zande Schulp steers new coach away from home in Brussels to upset Fonseca

Belgians Bailly and Collignon also advanced at home

October 14, 2025

Botic van de Zandschulp spoiled Joao Fonseca’s first match as a seeded player on the ATP Tour with a 7-5, 7-6(2) victory at the BNP Paribas Fortis Europe Open in France on Tuesday.

The Dutchman fought back from down a break in each set to defeat Fonseca with a 32-22 winner, ending his five-match losing streak at tour level. Van de Zandschulp also won 88% (42/48) of his first-serve points in his two-hour, two-minute victory, according to Infosys ATP Statistics.

“I had a really good match, my serve was unbelievable and came back in some moments,” Van der Zandschulp said. “My key to winning this game is, [in] Lots of important points to keep my attention. “

Vander Zanschulp has not won a tour-level match since reaching the Winston-Salem final in August. The world No. 86 will play in his box with a new coach this week and will next face American qualifier Eliot Spizzirri, who had previously easily defeated Pedro Martinez 6-4, 6-1.

“We started this week. We had some practices, but this is the first time playing together,” Van der Zande Schulp said of his coach. “Enjoying it a lot…it’s different this year, but I’m enjoying it this week, so it’s good.”

In other action on day two in Brussels, Belgian qualifier Gilles Arnaud Bailly earned his first ATP Tour victory with a thrilling 6-4, 6-7(10), 6-3 victory over Daniel Altmaier. With the victory, the 20-year-old moved up five spots to No. 10 in the PIF ATP Live Jeddah rankings, and could move up to No. 8 if he defeats third seed and last year’s finalist Jiri Lehecka in the second round.

The glory of Belgium in Brussels🤩🇧🇪

[Q] Bailly wins 6-4 6-7(10) 6-3 🆚 Altmaier wins his first ATP Tour event@BNPPFEUOpen | #BNPPFEuropeanOpen pic.twitter.com/xSaEb4qqoF

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 14, 2025

Wild card player Raphael Collignon earned his first home win by defeating compatriot and eighth seed Zizou Bergs 6-4, 7-6(5) in a tight all-Belgian match. The 23-year-old has moved up seven spots to No. 83 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, two spots below his career-high No. 81.

Watch Collignon piss off fellow Bergs:

Collignon, who reached the third round at this year’s U.S. Open, will next face Francisco Comesana, who defeated hometown hope and 2016 semifinalist David Goffin 7-6(5), 6-4.

French pair Giovanni Mpehi-Pericard and Valentin Royer also advanced to the second round on Tuesday. Mpetshi Perricard defeated Emil Ruusuvuori 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 6-4 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series to improve to 3-0, while lucky loser Royer defeated Sebastian Baez 6-2, 6-3.