Berrettini wins the arm wrestling with Auger-Aliassime: highlights
In the first set the blue becomes the protagonist of a smooth start: “The Hammer” immediately unleashes the forehand and sends Auger-Aliassime into trouble, which initially struggles to find countermeasures. The Canadian, for his part, stings Berrettini by serving the body several times and forcing some smears in response. Under the cautious guidance of McEnroe, Auger-Aliassime does not seem to make the status of the youngest player of the tournament weigh too much: the first mental decline in fact is up to Berrettini, who in the fifth game nullifies two break points by being sucked by the opponent’s icy calm.
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The inertia favorable to the Canadian is also transferred to the next game, when Berrettini is tightened to the ropes by four break points; the second arm wrestling swings several times to the advantages, and in the end, Auger-Aliassime’s stubbornness is rewarded; the baby phenomenon stretches to 5-2.
In a situation of advantage, Auger-Aliassime also takes the license to experiment with more ease: it is he who influences the responses of the blue, put to the test on the side of the grumpy backhand. But it is with his back to the wall that Berrettini once again shows his hard skin: the blue cancels a set-point to the Canadian and plays the limelight; Auger-Aliassime sticks three times straight and Matteo pierces him mercilessly; counter-break on the third occasion of the match and partial tie again at 5-5.
Auger-Aliassime risks getting hurt: slipping off the pitch
The test of suffering continues on 6-5, when Auger-Aliassime finds himself on 40-0 and with a colossal opportunity to seal the first set; but once again, Berrettini roars under stress: 6 colossal firsts and 7 set-points canceled to extend the challenge to the tie-break mirage. In the end it is the Canadian who beats the strenuous resistance of the blue, winning the first set in a tiebreak for 7-3 and discouraging the Roman also in service (the Canadian recorded 5 aces against Berrettini’s 4 in the first set) and in second (63% of second effective against 47% recorded by Berrettini).
Berrettini-Auger, breathtaking duel: unsurpassed Canadian in volleys
The second set opens with shifts in service that are far from easy for both: Berrettini earns the 1-0 to the advantages, while Auger-Aliassime must cancel two break points to reaffirm the balance. In the third game the roles are reversed, with Berrettini forced to chase and save two break points. The second part then slips on the tracks that allow more breathing space to the two tennis players, able to confirm their shifts in service with a greater margin. Berrettini tries again in the tenth game, when he forces a tie only to succumb to the usual defective backhand passer.
Auger-Aliassime turns out to be a tough opponent and difficult to attack on the serve, and Berrettini can do nothing but capitalize on his mistakes (4 double faults in the second part for the ace from Montreal): right on one of the rare relaxation of tension of the Canadian, Berrettini launches the paw of 7-5.
Ruthless Berrettini! His backhand overwhelms Auger-Aliassime
At the 10-point super tiebreak Berrettini collects the mini-break on 3-4, triggering yet another run-up of his evening as a martyr. Auger-Aliassime’s seventh double foul makes Berrettini breathe, and the two exchange gifts twice at the net, consolidating the entropy of an infinite confrontation. The decisive play comes on a tie of 8-8: Auger-Aliassime sticks with the forehand (9-8) and Berrettini crushes the Canadian backhand (10-8).
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Berrettini wins the arm wrestling with Auger-Aliassime: highlights
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