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Matteo Berrettini, the ninth seed on the Australian Open, might be hoping to achieve the semifinals at a Grand Slam for the second time in his profession, after additionally reaching that stage at the 2019 US Open. That may appear to be an bold aim for the Italian, however he has been enjoying good tennis firstly of this season. Would possibly it’s an inexpensive aspiration consequently?
Matteo Berrettini: His Path to the Semifinals
Stefanos Tsitsipas Ready within the Fourth Spherical?
Berrettini will almost definitely discover himself dealing with two main obstacles ought to he make his method into the second week in Melbourne. The primary is more likely to be Stefanos Tsitsipas, with the Greek additionally in tremendous kind firstly of 2021. In his opener on the Australian Open, Tsitsipas thrashed the veteran French Gilles Simon, dropping simply 4 video games in a complete 6-1 6-2 6-1 win. However Berrettini might have causes to be assured up towards the Greek.
He’s but to beat Tsitsipas, having misplaced to the world #6 in each of their earlier conferences, together with within the first spherical on the Australian Open in 2019. However Berrettini did run him shut in Melbourne two years in the past, in the end falling simply quick in 4 units, and he has improved since, together with his serve, particularly, a formidable weapon.
Rafael Nadal to be his quarterfinal opponent?
If Berrettini is ready to overcome Tsitsipas within the fourth spherical, it might be a shock have been Rafael Nadal not ready for him within the quarterfinals. That might be an actual take a look at for Berrettini, up towards a person he misplaced closely too of their solely earlier assembly, which coincidentally got here within the 2019 US Open semifinals. Nonetheless, there may be two elements on his aspect ought to they meet in Melbourne.
The primary is that Nadal is suffering from a back injury that’s clearly affecting him, particularly when he’s serving. Throughout his match towards Laslo Djere, though the 20-time Grand Slam champion received comfortably, he served with much less pace than regular and in addition admitted that it had affected his plus one shot. Thus while dealing with Nadal at his perfect could be an enormous problem for the Italian, one he might not have the ability to surpass, with Nadal struggling bodily his possibilities unquestionably look brighter.
Moreover, the court docket pace also needs to profit Berrettini. Each Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem have talked concerning the court docket enjoying considerably sooner than in earlier years. Certainly, the Serbian world #1 claimed that the Rod Laver Enviornment was ‘the fastest it has ever been‘ after his four-set win over Frances Tiafoe.
A Good Begin Towards Anderson
Berrettini may even have drawn confidence from his efficiency towards the big-serving Kevin Anderson in his first spherical. He hammered 14 aces previous the South African and confirmed his glorious athleticism in taking one of the points of day two.
Within the third set, with Anderson serving down 1-2, Berrettini ran to the baseline to achieve a deep lob from Anderson and he returned the ball with a tremendous tweener. After that, Anderson tried to finish the purpose within the web together with his volley however Berrettini tracked down the ball earlier than making passing shot winner. If he can play extra tennis like that, he might take some stopping.
Foremost picture:
Embed from Getty Images
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