The Roman, who has been out of action for six months, returns to the Challenger 175 in Phoenix and beats the Frenchman 2-1
We were still faced with yet another injury in the second round of the US Open, against the Frenchman Rinderknech. And already seeing Matteo Berrettini back on the pitch, almost 7 months after the last time, was a victory. At Challenger 175 in Phoenix (Ariz.) here is the new beginning for the Italian tennis player, who returns to where he won in 2019 and to the place where he played last year to try to regain a decent physical condition (without success). And it is already a convincing Berrettini who comes from behind to beat Hugo Gaston, anything but a low-level player, in a tournament where there are many veterans of Indian Wells (eliminated immediately). It ends 3-6 6-3 6-1 for Berrettini, in a match in which Matteo always commands the exchange and continues to crescendo throughout the match. The 2021 Wimbledon finalist’s last victory came in the first round of last year’s US Open, against another Frenchman, Hugo Humbert.
THE MATCH
—
Matteo starts well and immediately gets a break point, which is immediately canceled out by the Toulouse tennis player. The first turning point comes in the fourth game: Berrettini misses 4 forehands, comes back from 30-0 down and grants the first break of the match to Gaston. Hugo isn’t flawless at serve and Berrettini always commands the exchange, but there are too many errors. At 5-3 Gaston serves for the set, but Matteo goes up 0-30: the point that directs everything is that of 30-30, with Berrettini who doesn’t close and then makes a mistake. With 4 points in a row Hugo takes the set, but it is a wonderful partial of 12 points to 2 that sends the former world number 6 off like a rocket in the second set. Gaston seems dazed, but to get back into the match he cancels 6 break points and shortens. It’s not enough, because Berrettini is glacial in service and returns the favor. The set ends 6-3 for the Roman. Gaston is in confusion and Matteo is increasingly dominant, hitting the break at the start of the third set. Hugo immediately takes the break back, but Berrettini’s powerful forehand cancels out the service factor in a crazy third set, it’s 2-1 for the blue. It’s the game that destroys Gaston’s every certainty and makes Matteo escape. Partial score of 16 points to 5 and a ticket to the round of 16, where he will face Cazaux or Walton.