Italy ahead thanks to the success of Matteo, who beats the Austrian (number 177 in the ATP ranking) in two sets
When he wears the blue shirt, Matteo Berrettini never disappoints. To hell with the registry office, to hell with physical problems. The former world number 6, now 56th in the rankings, finds the good sensations of the Davis Cup again, the same Davis that saw him triumph as a protagonist in 2024, after having acted as a dressing room man in the success of 2023. With the Austrian Jurij Rodionov, in the opening match of the quarterfinals in Bologna, his ninth consecutive victory in singles with the national team (the seventh also considering the doubles) came: 6-3 7-6 (4) the score, in one hour and 46 minutes. The day before, Matteo had suffered some discomfort in his back, putting Sonego on early warning; doubts that were then swept away once he took the field against the left-handed number 177 in the ranking (he had been 87th in February 2024). Italy, the reigning champion, is thus starting off on the right foot in the first of the three editions of the Final 8 hosted at home, supported by an audience that already today, despite the weekday afternoon, has filled the 10,000-seat stands set up at the Fair. Now it will be up to Flavio Cobolli (n.22 ATP) to complete the job: he will face Filip Misolic (n.79, which also represents his best ranking) in the match between the top singles players of the two teams.
THE MATCH
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At the beginning, services dominate. In the first three innings, Rodionov hits 89% of his first balls, with 3 aces. At 4-3 for Berrettini, however, the Austrian’s percentage drops: the blue recovers from 40-15 to 40 all, opens the court with his forehand and wins the first break of the match, the one that decides the first set. Yes, because at 5-3 Matteo holds serve, albeit with difficulty: at 30 all his backhand gets decisive assistance from the tape; the first set point wasted with a forehand into the net, an ace fixed the score at 6-3. The second set begins again under the banner of serves. At 0-1 40-0 the match was interrupted due to a problem with the lighting system: it resumed after 15 minutes but Berrettini did not disjoin and immediately took home the game. At 2-3, however, he makes two free errors in a row, giving up the serve. Rodionov goes up 5-2, goes to serve for the set at 5-3, but suffers a counter break. Danger averted? Nope. Matteo finds himself 0-40: three consecutive set points. Another comeback, with four points in a row, and it’s 5-5. Everything postponed to the tie break. Auspicious start for the blue: a favorable streak immediately gives him the mini break. The Austrian returns, before committing the double fault that definitively launches Berrettini: 5-2, therefore the final 7-4.
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