Another Argentine for Bellucci!

The Italian pulled off a small upset by knocking out Borucciaga and will now try to repeat that feat against another, even stronger Argentine this time.

It wasn't a great performance from Buruchaga, who I thought looked a bit flat in terms of attitude and much more brittle than usual, but you also have to acknowledge Bellucci’s performance, as he really managed to impose his rhythm and capitalize well on the first shots. He could do well on clay with a bit more patience, given that his forehand generates a lot of spin. However, he tries too hard to finish points quickly and remains a very erratic player. It’s really strange because every time I read his post-match interviews, he comes across as a really intelligent and fairly calm guy who seems to understand tennis well, but once he’s on court, it’s like he forgets everything and plays purely on emotion.

Can he keep his momentum going and come beat another Argentinian? Quite a few Argentinians have crashed out or struggled in their first round in Rome this year. Etcheverry is part of the top tier and maybe seems a bit less likely to slip up, but the Argentinian is still a player who shines over the long haul and relies heavily on that to get the win.

Historically, he doesn’t have a great track record in Rome and I’m not convinced these are the best conditions for him, even if it obviously favors his grinder’s game in some ways. But his serve and his forehand, which are two shots he really needs to perform well, will be a bit harder to showcase.

It’s always the same question in this kind of matchup. You’ve got an Etcheverry who is extremely comfortable and knows how to make his opponents crack, but he might take a bit of time, due to a lack of punch, to put Bellucci away. Conversely, you’ve got a very erratic Bellucci who isn’t supposed to shine against this type of player, but the Italian, after a great first round and now with a bit less pressure, will once again be able to rely on the crowd and maybe surprise Etcheverry.