GUIA DE ISORA/STARNBERG, February 11, 2025
Junior World No. 1 Mees Rottgering is set to compete in the Tenerife Challenger 2 main draw. The 17-year-old received a wild card for the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam, where he faced Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in the opening round. Now, as the world’s top-ranked junior, the Dutch teenager is eager to test himself at Challenger level.
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“I played in Rotterdam last week, but I have to say the weather is definitely better here in Tenerife,” joked Rottgering. He will play his first-round match on Tuesday against Spaniard Daniel Rincon.
“We juniors have the level to compete in Challengers, but consistency is key,” Rottgering admitted. “Right now, I play a great match one day and a poor one the next. At the end of the year, I can count at least ten matches that I could have played much better.”
Reflecting on his match against Bellucci, Rottgering noted: “Mattia was in great form already from the qualifiers. I was a bit nervous and even cramped up, but I didn’t do too badly. He’s a strong player, and he proved it by beating Medvedev and Tsitsipas.”
Although this will be his first main-draw ATP Challenger Tour appearance, Rottgering is keeping expectations in check while maintaining high ambitions for the future: “Being No. 1 in juniors is nice because it brings attention and wild cards, but in the end, it means nothing. I want to be No. 1 in the pros, but I know it’s a long and tough journey.”
