Berrettini-Murray 1-2 live all’Australian Open

There is still life on planet Berrettini! After suffering a heavy 2-0 (6-3 6-3) from Andy Murray, the Roman manages to reopen the game by winning the third set 6-4. It’s too hot in Melbourne and we only play on covered fields, the Laver Arena the match is played with the roof closed. Matteo starts handicapped, foul, contracted and too imprecise, suffers a break in the opening and in an amen he finds himself down 3-0. The Scotsman, who has played five finals at Melbourne Park, moves well, his main dish, the return, works just as well and the Roman fails to break through with his serve. On the other hand, the backhand slice works and in the fourth game Matteo finally manages to move the score. The first ace of the match rains down on Murray’s pitch when the situation is 4-1 for him, Berretto tries somehow to shake himself off while Vincenzo Santopadre, in the box together with the rest of the team, is a sphinx With two aces and a winning first , Matteo remains attached in the score. In the 7th game the Roman starts with a nice slice down the line that burns Murray. Matteo begins to pick up the pace and thus gains two chances to recover the break. Murray, followed by coach Lendl, cancels them both and then seals the 5-2 with a beautiful passerby. Meanwhile, the Australian Open statistics service points out that the Scotsman is ahead in the ace count 4-2 and it is an ace that closes the first set 6-3 in favor of Andy.

Further down

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Second partial that starts with another slap for Berrettini who again gives up the joke, the Roman is angry and at one point asks himself and his box: “Am I stupid?”. He takes it to 30-30 but Murray serves, responds, runs as if he were ten years younger and the Roman’s certainties, semi-finalist last year in Melbourne, continue to waver. Still 2-0 Murray. Still too passive Berretto, who resumed the old habit of talking to himself. In the 5th game Santopadre’s pupil keeps the serve to zero, and immediately after he goes up 0-30 on the Scottish serve. Four mistakes put Murray back on track leading 4-2. Everything is really going wrong, disconsolate Matteo gets the commentary “I’m not putting anything into this match”. Indeed, the impression is that the Roman is empty, or perhaps too busy for the return of Slam. In short, the most classic of bad days. Which can be very expensive. Exiting in the first round with the semifinal to defend would be a big bang in the standings for Berrettini who would drop out of the top 20 in the world with the possibility of recovering in the clay court season which last year skipped even for the operation at right hand. “When I wake up like this, there’s not a damn thing to do” says the Roman again when he has to serve to stay in the second set. In fact he makes a mistake, loses his service again and so the second set, again 6-3. And now, with this Berrettini, a miracle is needed.

The reaction

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Matteo goes to change, to clear his head, and returns to the field for the set inside or out. The good news is that he doesn’t suffer the break at the opening and is therefore not forced to start running up. But the mood is still under the shoes, as well as the attitude “How can I win this game, I don’t put three balls in a row!”, says the Roman, fueling the negativity. Despite everything in the 3rd game he has the chance to break, and once again Murray, back from the past when he won the Grand Slams, puts in an ace that saves him. He continues to lead, with a few flashes from Berrettini but it is the Scotsman who has won 19 points when under pressure, against Matteo’s 4, who holds the bat: 2-1. In the fourth game the situation is reversed, Berrettini has to defend himself from the break while the free players rise to 17 against Sir Andy’s 5. In the end he stops the assault and stays tied at 2-2, he lets out a great liberating scream. He’s still alive. He alternates negative words with flashes of genius like the passer-by who earns him the break point. And finally, the light. Murray’s forehand comes out and it’s the first break by Berrettini who takes the lead 3-2. The gears begin to turn, Matteo confirms the advantage by keeping the serve to zero, 4-2. In the eighth game, Berretto is still chasing but the hammer is unlocked, the axes rise to 18 and he settles down to 5-3. There is still suffering, but the Roman closes the set with a winning serve at 220 km/h and reopens the match with a 6-4.

Andy’s certainties

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The balance says 3-1 for the blue. “It’s a difficult draw – Murray said on the eve -, but last year I didn’t feel as good as I do now on the eve of a Grand Slam. I’m ready to face a top player at the start of a major. I know where I am. I’m physically better than the last time we met, at the US Open, and I’m playing better. Obviously I hope I’ve learned something useful from our last confrontations.”