Matteo Berrettini edged out Richard Gasquet 24-8 12-14 16-12 10-13 2-1 in the sudden death to become the first player to reach the final at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown.
Berrettini came into the semifinal with a 5-3 record at this tournament and made his return to Southern France after playing in Thiem’s 7 tournament in Kitzbuhel.
Berrettini hit a series of serves from his forehand side and rallied from 0-2 down by winning six consecutive points to take a 6-2 lead. Berrettini hit his winner x3 card, as he was leading 12-6, and won three consecutive points with a forehand volley and with a forehand winner. The Italian player cruised through the first quarter and hit a backhand pass to take it 24-8.
Berrettini stole Gasquet’s serve to take a 9-5 lead. Gasquet used the x3 winner card and hit an ace and a regular point to draw level to 9-9 with four minutes to go.
Gasquet earned a point on Berrettini’s serve and won his next serves to take a 12-10 lead. Berrettini used used his winner x3 card but won just two points from it. Gasquet clinched the second quarter 14-12 after a missed backhand from Berrettini.
At the start of the third quarter Berrettini used his x3 winner card at 5-5 and found two aces to take a six-point lead. Berrettini pulled away to win the third quarter 16-12.
Berrettini hit two more aces in the fourth quarter. Gasquet fought hard and hit two backhand winners as he was leading 8-6. Berrettini could not use his x3 winner card. Gasquet won the next two points and used his steal serve card to seal the fourth quarter 13-11 forcing the match to the sudden death.
Gasquet won the first point on Berrettini’s serve, but Berrettini saved a match point with a big forehand to draw level to 1-1. Berrettini hit a volley on the match point to clinch a tight win.
“I played really good. I was serving really well and was able to win the card counts 3 twice, so I guess that enabled me to win the game”, said Berrettini.
Berrettini set up a final against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat David Goffin 15-11 13-11 13-12 in the other semifinal. Goffin came into the match with a 5-4 record compared to Tsitsipas’8-1 record.
Goffin used his -1 serve card, but Tsitsipas won both points, but Tsitsipas reeled off five of the next six points to take the lead. Goffin used his winnerx3 card at 7-9 and won two consecutive points to draw level to 9-9. Tsitsipas won both points on Goffin’s serve at 12 to clinch the first quarter 15-11.
Tsitsipas won six consecutive points from 2-3 to take a 8-3 lead. Goffin clawed his way back to 11-12, but Tsitsipas held on to win the second quarter 13-11.
Tsitsipas took a 8-5 lead in the third quarter. Goffin hit a backhand pass and hit an ace to draw level to 8-8 before taking a 12-11 lead with just 30 seconds to go. Tsitsipas forced Goffin into the corner with a forehand on the deciding point to to win the third quarter 13-12.
“I knew it’s not going to be as easy as Saturday. David worked really hard to be in the semifinals so he won’t let it go easy”, said Tsitsipas.
