From the grass of Queen’s to the red earth of Marrakech. After almost two years of bitterness, fears and injuries, Matteo Berrettini returns to win an ATP title, in 250 played in Moroccoovercoming the Spaniard in the final Roberto Carballes Baena with the score of 7-5 6-2. A liberating success, which came just three weeks after returning to the field after the long injury suffered by the latter Us Open. For Berrettini it is abouteighth triumph in career. Two hundred and fifty points which allow the Roman to make a big leap in the rankings. From the number 135 of the world at number 84: 51 positions climbed in just one week.
Alexander ShevchenkoJames DifferencesLorenzo SonegoMariano NavoneRoberto Carballes Baena. This is the sequence of rivals overtaken by Matteo Berrettini to find what is – emotionally speaking – perhaps the most important victory of his career. Adversaries certainly not of the highest level, but still difficult and highly experienced. A series of victories that pushed the Italian back into the top 100, confirming the positive sensations that had already been seen in Phoenix. But if the event in the United States was “just” a Challenger, the one in Marrakech is already a serious tournament. A 250 that leads the way in all the major tournaments on clay.
The return is proving to be increasingly surprising. In fact, no one was ready for a final and a title in the first three tournaments played after a seven-month break. A performance that showed all Berrettini’s desire to take back what bad luck has taken from him in the last two years. Game after game, his quality is growing, as is his confidence, mental stability and continuity of performance. Physical integrity was fully restored. And now it’s no longer just the tough guy who attests to this cement American but also red clay. The surface of great battles and long exchanges and physical wear and tear.
The next step is to demonstrate that you have found the right path even against opponents of higher caliber, in more demanding tournaments. The Masters 1000 of Monte Carlo is the right opportunity. Here Berrettini benefited from one wild card and will start against Miomir Kecmanovic. The Serbian is not going through a great period of form, but in his last one Australian Open he reached the round of 16. It therefore promises to be a tough and insidious test which could give other indications on the current level of the blue team. A tournament, that of the Principality, which also represents a first great opportunity to collect important points, with a view to an increasingly decisive climb up the rankings week after week.
The match – The start of the match was foul and a bit contracted Berrettiniimmediately called to cancel one palla break thanks to an excellent service. The difficulties continue, with Carballes’ passer finding the line and another opportunity to extend himself. And this time the Roman’s forehand ends up in the net. The reaction, however, comes immediate, almost sudden. Berrettini creates two break points, but the first is enough. The Spaniard’s backhand remains on the tape. The balance was broken when Carballes recovered a beautiful short ball from Berrettini. A break that anticipates the winning forehand with which the blue ends the first set, after saving three counter-break points.
The unfavorable outcome shakes the Spaniard, who suffered three chances to break the balance in the second set. The blue grits his teeth, cancels all the break points once again and deals a heavy psychological blow to Carballes which has immediate consequences. In the opponent’s next service turn the Spaniard’s forehand is deflected off the tape, ends up wide and Berrettini extends. The inertia at this point is evident, the almost inevitable double-break of the blue comes with another forehand error by Carballes. A moment that anticipates the hands in the hair and the emotion of a victory made official by the house brand: a ace.