Berrettini beats Kudla: he is in the quarters of the Queen’s

Denis Kudla and a bit of understandable fatigue risked giving Matteo Berrettini a day as black as his game set. The defending champion of Queen’s 2021 loses the first set then recovers and closes in a comeback without making us miss the thrill of a break point at 5-4 after wasting a match point. In the end he closes 3-6 7-6 (5) 6-4 in 2 hours and 46 minutes and wins the quarter-finals (against Tommy Paul) as well as victory number 17 on his last 18 plays on grass. “It was difficult, Kudla and I know each other well and I think that for most of the match it was he who deserved the victory – said Matteo -. I didn’t want to lose, I fought, my team helped me. Maybe I have them. mistreated a little to find the right energy, but they are there for that too … “.

The match

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In the first set the Roman left the service in the locker room. Foul, with just 67 percent of firsts on the pitch, and only 4 aces, Berretto can’t find the rhythm and finds himself saving a break point at the opening. At 4-3, however, he concedes two more, decisive ones, and the American takes home the set for 6-3. Matteo’s body language is not encouraging even at the start of the second, we proceed in balance until the Italian number 1 does not risk very big even at 3-3. He ends up under 15-40 but finds the bar and saves himself from a break that could have proved decisive. Perhaps it was the shock that Matteo needed who from that moment, even if not at his level, returns to place some aces, finds the rhythm and has two set points to play for the third. He made three mistakes and we go to the tie break, which opens with the 11th ace and with a Berrettini decided to play it.

The battle

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He closes and then, at the change of court, calls the physio to show his right hand operated. Nothing to worry about, just some skin to remove to avoid blisters. Third set with a Kudla still in the game who, however, in the fifth game gives up with a big backhand that ended up in the corridor. The dangers do not end for the Roman who in the 6th game is distracted and returns the break. He still has a chance to shoot Matteo ahead at 3-3 but a straight fence and one in the net put the American back on track and he goes on to lead 4-3. Decisive, finally the break in the ninth game with Berretto who goes to serve for the match, wastes a match point, risks the break then closes.