Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – October 1, 2020 Italy’s Matteo Berrettini reacts during his second round match against South Africa’s Lloyd George Harris REUTERS/Charles Platiau
Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – October 1, 2020 Italy’s Matteo Berrettini reacts during his second round match against South Africa’s Lloyd George Harris REUTERS/Charles Platiau
World number eight Matteo Berrettini was knocked out of the French Open 2020 as the upsets continued on red clay. Berrettini succumbed to a 2-6, 6-7(5), 4-6 defeat to German qualifier Daniel Altmaier. The 22-year-old ranked 186 in the ATP rankings has dropped just a set in six matches at this year’s Roland Garros.
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In the first-round, Altmaier defeated experienced campaigner Feliciano Lopez in straight sets. Meanwhile, Berrettini was drawn to face Novak Djokovic in the quarter-final.
Set 1: Altmaier dominates from the start
From the outset, Altmaier showed no nerves against his superior opponent. He held serve to begin the match before breaking Berrettini’s serve without much fuss.
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Berrettini challenged him for the first time in the match in the fifth game, as he forced a break-point. Altmaier held and then soon raced to a 5-2 lead. He then sealed a superior set of tennis from him with another break. Berrettini’s 11 unforced errors compared to his opponent’s five weighed him down.
Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – October 3, 2020 Germany’s Daniel Altmaier in action during his third round match against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
Set 2: Matteo Berrettini wastes his chances
Altmaier’s concentration seemed to drop as the second set began. He lost his serve to 0 in the opening game and Berrettini jumped on this chance. The set followed the script of the first set; however, this time it was in Berrettini’s favor.
Berrettini had the chance to take a 5-2 lead with two breaks of serve, but Altmaier stayed in the set, something that would bear fruit later. Berrettini did take a 5-4 lead and had the chance to serve for the set but Altmaier broke right back on his second break-point to level the match.
Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – October 3, 2020 Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in action during his third round match against Germany’s Daniel Altmaier REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
The set went into a tie-breaker, where again, Berrettini wasted chances to take the set. He made a couple of untimely unforced errors towards the end of the tie-break. But credit to Altmaier as well, who forced Berrettini to play those extra shots. Altmaier soon took a two-set lead.
Set 3: Altmaier holds his nerve again when it matters
Berrettini again had chances early in the third set to take the lead, but wasted break-points, allowing Altmaier to stay in the contest. Altmaier then held for 2-2, before breaking for 3-2, which would turn out to be the decisive break.
Both players then held on, but more importantly, Altmaier gave Berrettini no chances. He was under the pressure of serving out the match, which he did in style as Berrettini had no answer to the youngster’s game.
This is also Altmaier’s first-ever win against a top-30 opponent on the ATP Tour.
