ATP Masters Rome: Matteo Berrettini - dream of home victory burst
Matteo Berrettini was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome. The local hero was defeated by the Norwegian Casper Ruud 4: 6, 6: 3 and 7: 6 (5).
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Sep 19, 2020, 03:22 pm
You have to go very far back in the history of the Italian Open to find a local winner in the men's category: In 1976 Adriano Panatta defeated Guillermo Vilas in four sets in the final. Since then there has been a break in transmission, Panatta himself was the last Italian in 1978 to at least reach the final. To lose against Björn Borg there.
In the past few years, Fabio Fognini raised high hopes with his victory at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo. Only to collapse under this pressure in Rome. On a packed Pietrangeli, against a fully motivated Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Matteo Berrettini is also guilty when it comes to raising hopes, last year the Roman reached the ATP final in London for the first time after his tournament victories in Budapest on clay and in Stuttgart on grass and the semi-finals at the US Open. But even in 2020 there will be no Italians in the list of winners in the Foro Italico, yes, not even the "Runner Up" will be enough.
Berrettini cannot defend minibreaks
Because Berrettini started well against Casper Ruud, could have won the first set more clearly than 6: 4. After that, however, the Norwegian became more and more solid, winning round two 6: 3. and Ruud also made a break in the decision before Berrettini made a comeback.
The decision had to bring a tiebreak, in which Berrettini twice took the lead with a mini break. Ruud came back again and again and placed two serves exactly on the line with a score of 4: 5. Matteo Berrettini then sank Casper Ruud's first match ball into the net with his forehand. A particular success for Ruud: he is the first Norwegian to reach the semifinals in a Masters 1000 tournament. There Ruud will meet either Novak Djokovic or Dominik Koepfer on Sunday.