Matteo stops the Serbian race that in Qatar was looking for the 100th career title: tomorrow he finds Griekspoor. Nardi will face Alcaraz
There is Djokovic who wants the number 100 title, there is caps that wants to demonstrate to himself and to the tennis that he is still there, that the many physical problems and the crisis is now overcome, that there are still dreams and objectives to be chasing on the eve of 29 years. A desire so strong as to allow him to beat 7-6 (4) 6-2, finally, the Serbian rival who four years ago in Wimbledon had beaten him in the final.
In reality, Nole had always beaten Matteo in the four previous crossings. They had only faced each other in the most important tournaments: Finals, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Us Open, the last time in 2021. In four years many things happened: the Serbian continued to grind victories and records, Berrettini met the fall , the pain, and the difficulty of tracing on the surface after a long apnea. It took an ATP 500 on Doha’s concrete to reverse the course. Tomorrow an eighth final against Tallon Griekspoor awaits him, who beat him in Rotterdam’s first round last week. Immediately afterwards he will be up to Luca Nardi, who had beaten Nole to Indian Wells last year. For the Marche, the test will be very difficult against Carlos Alcaraz, but certainly another opportunity for growth.
The game
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First extremely balanced set, with just two matches that go to the advantages, the 5th and 6th in which both must save themselves from the break. On the 2-2 Matteo is the first to have an opportunity, he brings 0-40 but the former number 1 recovers clinging to the service, closing the 3-2 with four consecutive points. Immediately afterwards it is the Roman who had to defend himself, twice, from the break but to keep the service tight, 3-3. Yes, remain on the tie break, which sees caps forward of a minibreak until 4-3, when Djokovic returns in a tie. The Roman is still ahead of a minibreak when it goes to serve on 5-4 and pulls the hammer to polish, commanding from the bottom and going to close 7-4. Matteo is fine, with Umberto Ferrara and Alessandro Bega in his corner, he returns to the field in the second set still concentrated. The Serbian, who returned after the thigh injury that had stopped him in the semifinal at the Australian Open against Zverev, replies well but when the exchanges stretch is Matteo to keep and then take the command. In fact, the break arrives immediately, in the 2nd game, with a cap that from 40-15 undermines the service to the champion of 24 Slam, 2-0 and then 3-0 with a perfect game and 9 ACE from the beginning of the match. The Roman does not give up, rises up to 4-1, risks the counterbreak on 4-2 then goes has a match point on the 5-2 Nole service, passes to the second. It is increasingly hammering.
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