The Roman stops with a double tie break in front of his girlfriend Melissa. The head is returning, the legs are still missing
Melissa Satta’s debut in Matteo Berrettini’s box was not blessed with luck. The Roman, still clearly behind especially from the point of view of physical preparation, went out at the debut of the Masters 1000 in Miami at the hands of the American Mackenzie McDonald with a double tie break 7-6(8) 7-6(5). A defeat that certainly hurts but is different from those seen in the past weeks, above all for the Italian’s mental reaction. It’s a different Berrettini from the one in Phoenix where he even started ranting “Take me off the pitch, I’m unwatchable”. This time he fought, and this is good news, the serve is still there, but there is still a lot of “bottom” in the legs and lungs of the Roman coached by Vincenzo Santopadre. Another little bit of good news comes from the Wimbledon 2021 finalist’s physique: apart from a muscle strain in his right calf that forced him to retire in Acapulco, Matteo is physically intact.
The match
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The match against McDonald is played under a scorching sun, and it certainly doesn’t help a Berrettini who is still behind in terms of physical fitness. In the tie break of the first set, the Roman has a set point, then gives up 10-8 on the fourth occasion for the American number 55 in the world. Great fear at the beginning of the second set, with Matteo having to save two break points on 1-1. Two winning serves to hold serve, from there we proceed without extreme risks. At 6-5 he goes 0-30 in McDonald’s innings, and the first two break points finally arrive, which are worth as many set points. Ginepri’s pupil, however, makes the Berrettini and cancels the first danger with the 7th ace then, the Italian’s passer is long. Melissa chews chewing gum nervously tugging at her braids, the stall seats are hot from the sun and tension. You fail, the former number 6 in the world, to snatch service from the American. It’s tiebreak again. Matteo gives the paw of the 3-1 but a tape puts McDonald back on par. Very tough exchanges are played and the American has the legs and lungs of a cross-country skier. The Roman tries to fight, he charges up, he gets to 4-4 but in the end the match point is for Mackenzie: Berrettini’s forehand stops on the tape, nothing to do. Now the red clay, a season Matteo is particularly fond of and where he has no points to defend, having missed it last year due to an operation on his right hand. His head is returning, his legs are still missing, but something is moving.
March 25, 2023 (change March 25, 2023 | 20:51)
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