The two met for the first time on the tour, in a match where Boitan showed solid moments, particularly in the second set, where he managed to keep things level until late in the game.

After the match, the Romanian player explained that his start was affected by conditions different from the previous day: "I found it a little hard to get into the match — I hadn't checked the weather and had strung my rackets for yesterday's conditions. I had to improvise and actually change rackets during the match."

He also pointed out that his serve was one of the weak points, partly due to an inconsistent ball toss: "My ball toss was slightly all over the place and I think that's what led to a problematic serve."

In the second set, Boitan felt the difference came down to fine margins: "There were a few moments where I had a bit of bad luck, but also a lack of confidence. At this level today, the margins are very small — and that's exactly what makes it so frustrating."

His place in the main draw comes on the back of a strong 2025 campaign, in which Boitan won 55 matches. The Romanian player, a communications graduate from the United States, highlighted the important role his time in America played in his development: "That's where I managed to raise my level, and I met people who believed in me and supported me."

Nevertheless, he acknowledges that the road to the top remains a difficult one: "I have invested hundreds of thousands of euros to get here. I am disciplined and I want to reach a Grand Slam or even beyond, but these are things that require financial resources which, at this moment, I don't have."