Mother Knows Best: Berrettini Overcomes Anderson In Melbourne
Ninth seed Matteo Berrettini grit his teeth to save eight set points in the first set of a 7-6(9), 7-5, 6-3 victory over former World No. 5 Kevin Anderson on Tuesday night at the Australian Open.
Berrettini, who hit 45 winners — including 14 aces — and committed just 15 unforced errors, will now prepare to face Czech qualifier Tomas Machac in the second round on Thursday.
“I’m very happy with my performance, as I played at a high level,” said Berrettini. “I won in straight sets, but it was really tough. I used the energy and confidence I got from the previous week, but it was a best-of-five [sets] match so it was different.
“I don’t think I saw Kevin’s serve a lot. I knew he was a great server coming into the match. But I served well too. I was fortunate on my second set point [in the first set], when Kevin was ready for a low volley and the ball popped up higher. I apologised, because that’s what my mother taught me to do.”
The 24-year-old led Italy to the ATP Cup final (l. to Russia) last week, winning three of his four singles matches. He beat Austria’s Dominic Thiem and Gael Monfils of France in Group D play, then Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in the semi-finals, before losing to Daniil Medvedev in the final.
Berrettini didn’t give in and reaped the rewards, saving seven of eight set points on serve in the first set — at 4/5, 0/40, then in the tie-break at 3/6, 6/7 and 8/9. Anderson saved a set point with aggressive play at 7/8 in the tie-break, but was dealt a hammer blow on the 20th point of the tie-break when Berrettini hit a big forehand approach to leave his South African opponent lunging deep behind the baseline.
To his credit, Anderson didn’t panic after losing the 61-minute opener. He tightened up his game, cutting down on his 13 unforced errors, but at the business end of the second set, Berrettini stepped up again. Rather fortuitously, he broke Anderson at 5-6. A backhand flicked up off the tape, which Anderson volleyed back, but Berrettini responded by ripping a forehand crosscourt into space.
Lapses in concentration cost Anderson at 3-4 in the third set, when he recovered from 0/30 and held a game point. But Berrettini got his reward, on his third break point opportunity, with a powerful forehand that Anderson volleyed into the net. Minutes later, Berrettini closed out with a forehand — his 45th winner of the match
Machac, who is currently No. 199 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, had won 80 per cent of his first-service points before Mario Vilella Martinez of Spain retired in the fourth set. Machac was leading 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-0, 3-0 after two hours and 32 minutes of play.
Elsewhere, Karen Khachanov maintained his perfect record of reaching the Australian Open second round after the Russian No. 19 seed knocked out wild card Aleksandar Vukic of Australia 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(2), 6-4 in three hours and six minutes. Khachanov battled back from 2-5 down in the third set.
“First rounds, playing an Australian guy are never easy,” said Khachanov. “I [had] never heard of him, but you heard from other guys that he had a big serve, big forehand [and went] for the shots. So it’s never easy to play guys like this, especially when they feel like they have nothing to lose… So I would say it was a difficult match. I’m happy that I could get through and I [have] really enjoyed playing tennis since the beginning of the year. I’m happy to compete again and I feel fresh. I feel physically ready.”
He will next play Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis, who advanced to the second round for the fifth time after he defeated Indian wild card Sumit Nagal 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 in two hours and 10 minutes.