Matteo Berrettini moved into the Belgrade Open semi-finals Friday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Filip Krajinovic. The second seed served well from start to finish, and controlled the narrative from the very start of the match with his first-strike abilities off the forehand.
“I think I played a really solid match," Berrettini said. "My weapons were working from the beginning really well. I'm happy with the performance. I served well. I also returned well when I had to. I’m really happy that I'm in the semis."
The World No. 10 had been dealing with an abdominal injury for most of 2021 and is playing in just his second singles draw since withdrawing from the fourth round of the Australian Open. He dropped his first match back last week in Monte-Carlo before stringing together this run in Belgrade. It's the 25-year-old's first ATP Tour semi-final since Vienna in 2019.
The 25-year-old Italian started play on Center Court by breaking Krajinovic’s serve in the first game. In the second set, with Berrettini serving so well (he would hit nine aces to Krajinovic's one), he was able to put a lot of pressure on the Serbian’s serve, getting the second, and final, break at 4-3. He dug himself out of a 0/40 hole by winning five points in a row to seal the victory, boosted by his final ace.
“I think I played really good tennis today, especially in the important moments and I feel I’m improving,” said Berrettini. “The work we’ve done is in relation to my attitude, and be focused point after point, because that’s what I’ve missed the most in not playing a lot. We were trying to play points at match intensity in practice.”
Both players faced six break points on their own serves with Berrettini saving 100 per cent of his. He improves to 2-0 in their ATP Head2Head Series.
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"It’s never easy when you’re coming back from an injury," Berrettini said. "I played well; physically I'm feeling good so that the most important thing for me, especially in the last month. I'm reaching my best shape — that is the goal."
Berrettini will next face the winner of Taro Daniel and Federico Delbonis. He's also still alive in the doubles draw as he and Andrea Vavassori will play the semi-finals later on Friday.
“I think I played a really solid match," Berrettini said. "My weapons were working from the beginning really well. I'm happy with the performance. I served well. I also returned well when I had to. I’m really happy that I'm in the semis."
The World No. 10 had been dealing with an abdominal injury for most of 2021 and is playing in just his second singles draw since withdrawing from the fourth round of the Australian Open. He dropped his first match back last week in Monte-Carlo before stringing together this run in Belgrade. It's the 25-year-old's first ATP Tour semi-final since Vienna in 2019.
The 25-year-old Italian started play on Center Court by breaking Krajinovic’s serve in the first game. In the second set, with Berrettini serving so well (he would hit nine aces to Krajinovic's one), he was able to put a lot of pressure on the Serbian’s serve, getting the second, and final, break at 4-3. He dug himself out of a 0/40 hole by winning five points in a row to seal the victory, boosted by his final ace.
“I think I played really good tennis today, especially in the important moments and I feel I’m improving,” said Berrettini. “The work we’ve done is in relation to my attitude, and be focused point after point, because that’s what I’ve missed the most in not playing a lot. We were trying to play points at match intensity in practice.”
Both players faced six break points on their own serves with Berrettini saving 100 per cent of his. He improves to 2-0 in their ATP Head2Head Series.
[WATCH LIVE 2]
"It’s never easy when you’re coming back from an injury," Berrettini said. "I played well; physically I'm feeling good so that the most important thing for me, especially in the last month. I'm reaching my best shape — that is the goal."
Berrettini will next face the winner of Taro Daniel and Federico Delbonis. He's also still alive in the doubles draw as he and Andrea Vavassori will play the semi-finals later on Friday.