ATP Gstaad: Dominic Thiem against Matteo Berrettini - memories of 2019
Dominic Thiem will meet Italian Matteo Berrettini for the sixth time in the semi-finals in Gstaad. Despite the negative balance, the Austrian has mostly positive memories of the Roman.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Jul 22, 2022, 05:15 pm
There aren't many scenarios in modern tennis where a player doesn't have to leave the court completely hurt after a loss. Dominic Thiem experienced one. At the ATP Finals 2019, when the Austrian successfully bought the ticket for the semifinals at the season finale despite losing to Matteo Berrettini in the last group game. And the two-set defeat against the Italian should therefore have given little importance.
It was also the finale of eventful weeks for the two Central Europeans - in which their paths crossed three times within a few days. First at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai, where Thiem lost in two sets after success in Beijing against Berrettini. Although the Roman failed in the semifinals, he laid the foundation for his first entry into the top 10 in China a few days later.
Thiem and Berrettini with strong weeks
Thiem should succeed in a very special revenge a few weeks later, where the Lichtenwörther defeated Berrettini in three competitive and high-class sets at the home ATP event in Vienna - and thus secured his ticket for the final. That the 28-year-old should also win against his friend Diego Schwartzman. Title win number five for the Austrian in 2019. More than in any other season so far.
So now there is a reunion between Matteo Berrettini and Dominic Thiem, who last competed on the pitch at the beginning of 2021. The signs: completely different than in 2019. While the Lower Austrian is slowly but surely getting back on track after 14 months without a win on the ATP tour, Berrettini can also look back on tough weeks.
Thiem and Berrettini in Kitzbuehel
Although the Roman won two preparatory events with a view to Wimbledon after an injury break of several weeks - at the classic lawn it was a bitter smack with a positive COVID test result for the Italian - last year's finalist on Church Road. Now, like Thiem, Berrettini has once again embarked on the European sand court swing in summer, which will culminate in Kitzbühel for both of them next week.
It cannot be ruled out that Thiem and Berrettini could offend again in Kitzbühel. Especially since the Austrian can also be expected in front of the home crowd in view of the form curve pointing upwards. And Berretini? He won his 10th match on the ATP tour in a row on Friday. Dominic Thiem wants to end this series on Saturday. And how in 2019 after a semi-final win over Berrettini you get the feeling of title honors. Just not in Vienna, but in Gstaad.