New York - Italy’s Matteo Berrettini beats former champion Andy Murray in four stellar sets on Friday, moving into the Round of 16 at the U.S. Open for the fourth consecutive year.
Thirteen seed Matteo Berrettini and World No. 51 Andy Murray played a box office match on Friday at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, a battle that saw the Italian earn a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3 victory after three hours and 47 minutes.
In his on-court interview, the Roman-born player commented: “I wasn’t aggressive enough with the breakpoints [in the third set], but that is tennis.”
Adding: “I think Andy played a really good set in order to not get broken, but I was feeling better. I had more chances, and I thought the same thing in the fourth set. I had my chance, and I took it.”
Their fourth meeting on Tour was marked not just by the high level of tennis exhibited by both men on court but also by the tenacity and resilience lessons that go beyond a tennis stadium.
As in any sport, only one will emerge victorious while others will leave in defeat.
On Friday, Berrettini and Murray shared a victory and a defeat, respectively, the facts say so, and only one advanced into the next level of the game. The truth is any could have emerged victorious such was the parity between them.
The Battle as It Happened
Making good use of his powerful serve, the Italian found his rhythm early in the matchup, dictating the points with accuracy and consistency.
The World No. 14 put up a dominant performance throughout the first two sets he claimed in his favor 6-4, 6-4, despite the high-quality tennis showcased by the three-time Grand Slam champion, who reached the major’s third round for the first time since 2016.
However, frustration knocked on the door of the former world number one, who played one of his best matches in the last six years, as the 26-year-old managed to stay ahead in the score.
He closed out the second set, winning 76 percent of his first-serve points, compared to Murray’s 60 percent.
Moreover, he converted two of three breakpoint opportunities, hitting 12 winners to his adversary only three.
The Scot continued to fight hard into the third set to stay in the match, raising his level to force a tiebreak he would take by storm 7-6(1) after 82 minutes, setting the crowd on fire.
The 35-year-old fighting spirit took the encounter into a fourth set which began with Vicenzo Santopadre’s pupil broken in the opening game, as the Glasgow native maintained momentum.
The Wimbledon 2021 semifinalist quickly recovered, breaking back to level up the set 1-1.
Too many unforced errors committed by the Italian almost cost him high.
Murray’s comeback attempt failed to halt the two-time Queen’s Club champion, who continues his journey at the U.S. Open.
Overall he won 74 percent of his first-serve points, firing 18 aces, converting 5/15 brekpoint opportunities.
Berrettini set off his campaign at the tournament on Monday, moving past Chile’s qualifier Nicolas Jarry 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.
On Wednesday, he won his second-round match against lucky loser Hugo Grenier, defeating the Frenchman in four sets to next face Murray on Friday.
Next, he will meet Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who ousted Colombia’s Daniel Elahi Galan 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 after three hours and 15 minutes.
In his post-match press conference, Davidovich Fokina remarked: “I’m happy for the win. [I am] looking forward to playing against Berrettini.
“He’s a very good player. He’s one of the top, for sure, I will enjoy to play against him, fighting to try to win the match.”
The World No. 39 leads Berrettini 1-0 in their series, having faced one another last season in Monte-Carlo, a match the 23-year-old won in straight sets.