ATP Stuttgart: Comebacker Matteo Berrettini remains the boss at Weissenhof
Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini (ATP No. 10) celebrated a successful return to the tour at the ATP tournament in Stuttgart.
by Florian Goosman from Stuttgart
last edit: Jun 08, 2022, 07:27 pm
The Italian won his opening game against Radu Albot 6:2, 4:6 and 6:3. It was Berrettini's first match since the Miami Open, after which the Italian had to have his right hand operated on. He then missed the entire clay court season.
Berrettini was satisfied with his comeback in Stuttgart. "I knew it was going to be difficult. It's always hard to come back and, above all, to get the rhythm back. Especially on grass. A break and the match can turn around," he explained after his win. Ultimately, it doesn't matter how well and how much you train, "an official match is always something different, the tension, the adrenaline, also mentally." From his own experience, he always needs three matches to find his way back after a long break, "so I knew that today would be the toughest match of the year for me. But I need games like that.”
An Italian affair could wait
Next match: It could be an all-Italian affair for Berrettini should pal Lorenzo Sonego be his opponent. He was in good shape in the match against Jan-Lennard Struff, leading 7: 6 (2), 3: 4 before the game was stopped due to rain.
"We grew up together, we have a great relationship," said Berrettini in relation to a possible duel with Sonego.
Struff is also on his way back, he has also been out of action since Miami, a broken toe cost him the clay tournaments after a bad start to the season. Against Sonego, of all things, he made a few mistakes in the tie-break of the first set - but in return the Italian unpacked strong returns and, in case of doubt, the fine blade if Struff did not appear completely sovereignly prepared at the net. The game will continue on Thursday as the second after 11 a.m. (Denis Shapovalov and Oscar Otte will start - the game had to be postponed completely).
Who is the boss?
Berrettini is still unbeaten at the Weissenhof, his record is now 6-0, in 2019 he surprisingly won the tournament, at that time just on the way to the top of the world (as world ranking 30th). Incidentally, in the semifinals he beat his other possible upcoming opponent, namely Struff.
This year, alongside short-term wildcard starter Stefanos Tsitsipas, Berrettini is the figurehead here at Killesberg, and in a literal sense too. The former MercedesCup has become the Boss Open, good old Hugo is based around the corner in Metzingen. And is also the outfitter of Berrettini. Which is why it is advertised extremely often and prominently in Stuttgart.
That was a bit strange, explained Berrettini with a laugh, no, very nice, of course. Unusual - otherwise he is usually shown with other player colleagues on tournament posters. "Of course, Boss is the main sponsor here. But I was surprised on the first day," he explained. And added with a smile: "I'm rather shy."
TV NOTE: ServusTV Germany broadcasts all center court matches of the BOSS OPEN live and exclusively on free TV and on ServusTV On.