Matteo Berrettini is back... and winning 💪 The former world No. 6 claims his first victory since August, ousting Gaston 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 in Phoenix #ATPChallenger | @aztennisclassic
Matteo Berrettini is back and winning: Former World No.6 opens Phoenix Challenger campaign after six-month lay off
ATPWednesday, 13 March 2024 at 14:30
Matteo Berrettini is through to the second round of an ATP Challenger Tour, the Arizona Tennis Classic in Phoenix in what is his first match in six months and an early win for the former World No.6.
Berrettini is back starting at a lower level attempting to bag wins and confidence after attempting to come back a number of times in recent months to no avail. As has been the case in the past year, his relationship with Melissa Satta or lack there of now has been the main topic of conversation over his game in the media and he will look to let his racquet do the talking now.
He hit 10 aces and won 34 of his 41 first serve points in his first match since the 2023 US Open where he suffered an ankle injury, one of many setbacks during last season with Wimbledon in particular seeing him look good again before he was once again put on the sidelines. He saw off Hugo Gaston 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 and overcame some forehand errors early on to breeze past the Frenchman in the final two sets.
“I’m just so happy. It’s been 10 years!” Berrettini joked on-court. “It was so long. It’s been almost seven months since my last match. I’m so happy that I was able to play, that’s what I told myself after I lost the first [set]. I was just appreciating the fact that I could play, so I’m really happy that I got the win.”
He will now meet Arthur Cazaux or Adam Walton on Thursday and after winning the 2019 title, he will look to return to the winners' circle in a tournament that features Christopher Eubanks as top seed who will face Thanasi Kokkinakis on Wednesday. But Berrettini is back and winning and with Jannik Sinner and now Luca Nardi showing out in Indian Wells, he will look to make his own headlines.
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