2024 Halle Open Round-Up: Matteo Berrettini and Stefanos Tsitsipas suffer shocking upsets

Thursday, 20 June 2024 at 19:57

Former Grand Slam runner-ups Stefanos Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini exited the ATP 500 Halle Open after suffering surprising defeats at the hands of Marcos Giron and Jan-Lennard Struff.

The Italian had a great debut against Alex Michelsen (7-5, 6-2), but couldn't overcome the American Giron, leaving Halle with only the main draw of Wimbledon left in the grass swing. Tsitsipas, on the other hand, fell to an impressive Struff, who seems well-prepared to make a positive impact on the grass swing. The German, who withdrew from Stuttgart last week, has now accumulated four consecutive wins on grass.

Berrettini stunned by Giron

Berrettini's high level of play on grass each season had him as a clear favorite, especially after reaching the final of the Nottingham Open last week (losing to Jack Draper). Giron, however, had the credentials to challenge the former Wimbledon runner-up, having surprised fourth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets in the first round.

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The first set began with an early break in favor of the Italian, quickly establishing a 3-0 lead. With dominant service games from both players, there were no further breaks, and Berrettini took the set 6-3, winning 83% of his service points compared to 71% for Giron.

In the second set, Berrettini couldn't maintain the same service effectiveness, while Giron elevated his game. The American appeared more secure in his service games, and the set remained even without break points until the 10th game. Giron seized a couple of break opportunities and took the set 6-4 to level the match.

The third set provided more opportunities for both players, with each having two break points and several tense games. Giron capitalized on his second break point to lead 4-2 and, without giving Berrettini any chances on his serve, closed out the match with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Halle Open. He will now face fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz, who has yet to drop a set in the tournament.

Matteo Berrettini at 2023 Wimbledon

Tsitsipas falls to Struff

The Greek player had a disappointing second-round exit at Halle. Tsitsipas likely aimed to play a few more matches before Wimbledon, but he encountered a superb Jan-Lennard Struff, who showcased his powerful service game on grass.

In the first set, Struff secured a break in the fifth game, the only break opportunity of the set, to win 6-4 in 31 minutes. The German conceded just five points on his serve, making it nearly impossible for Tsitsipas to find any chances.

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Tsitsipas was far from his best, and despite having good service games, he could do little on return, not managing a single break point throughout the match. The former world No. 3 won only 21% of his return points.

The second set followed a similar pattern. Tsitsipas started on serve, but Struff broke in the fifth game and held onto the lead to secure a 6-4, 6-4 victory in just over an hour. Struff will now face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals, who overcame Hungarian Fabian Marozsan.

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Struff surges on ⚡️ @Struffitennis is into the Halle QF's for the first time in 11 appearances after defeating Tsitsipas! #TerraWortmannOpen

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5:45 PM · Jun 20, 2024

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

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