Is this perhaps a new grass carrier? Is this someone who could even tread in the footsteps of Roger Federer on the grass in Halle? Well, the path is still long but Metteo Berrettini (23) has made the first steps.
After winning the tournament in Stuttgart last week he has also convinced in Halle up till now. By scoring 4:6, 6:3, 6:2 in the round of 16 he has now won seven consecutive matches on the green surface. But his compatriot Andreas Seppi, who had defeated him 2018 in Halle, was able to get the first break in ten days. Beforehand, the newcomer from Rom had brought through 63 service games.
At the beginning of the match the 1,96 m tall Italian was still looking for his form. Routined Seppi (35), on the other hand, found his game, followed all speeds, used slices, was variable. Berrettini was having problems in the seventh game and so Seppi grabbed the first set.
But it was clear from the first round onward, that Berrettini’s form would decide over victory or defeat. He has more possibilities as a player. And these he showed increasingly better in the second set. “I changed my way of play slightly then and that paid off” he said after the match. He still had to fender off a break point himself, though, in the seventh game. After that, the way was clear, got a break and broke Seppi’s resistance fully at the beginning of the third round. The finalist in Halle from 2015 had nothing to respond. All of Berrettini’s shots were now perfect and the bigger power pushed through
The climber of the season has to overcome a totally different calibre in the quarter finals. Karen Khachanov, no. 9 in the world rankings, awaits him there. He is looking for revenge, as he lost to Berrettini clearly in two sets last week in Stuttgart. “That is going to be a tough match“ Berrettini said.
