Botic van de Zandschulp defeated Joao Fonseca 7–5, 7–6 in the first round of the ATP 250 event in Brussels on hard court, upsetting the pre-match favourite Fonseca despite entering as the underdog. Van de Zandschulp, who carried odds of 2.69 against Fonseca's 1.52, controlled both sets to secure a decisive victory. The Dutch player's composed performance, particularly in the tiebreak of the second set, proved decisive in claiming the match. The result marks a significant scalp for van de Zandschulp at this stage of the tournament and suggests momentum heading into the second round.