Berrettini Solid On Serve In Sofia

Italy’s Matteo Berrettini grew in confidence on serve on Friday to beat sixth-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in two hours and 22 minutes for a place in the Sofia Open semi-finals.

Verdasco recovered from 0/40, when serving at 3-3, but was broken in the 11th game of the second set. Berrettini, the 2018 Gstaad champion, gave little away on serve in the second and third sets — losing just eight of his first-service points. At one stage, the 22-year-old won 12 of 14 points, including a service break for a 3-2 lead in the decider.

Berrettini will now face Marton Fucsovics, who celebrated his 27th birthday by advancing to the second ATP Tour semi-final of his career. The Hungarian was awarded a walkover when his opponent, 2016 champion and fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut, withdrew, prior to their first meeting, due to illness. Last year, Fucsovics won his first ATP Tour title in Geneva (d. Gojowczyk).

Later today, third-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev takes on Martin Klizan of Slovakia and second-seeded Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals titlist, faces seventh seed Gael Monfils of France.