Matteo Berrettini battled past his friend Lorenzo Sonego 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 on Court 12 at Wimbledon in a match in a match that began on Tuesday afternoon.
Berrettini lost the opening set on Tuesday before being forced to wait a day to resume the match due to persistent rain. Berrettini broke serve in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead with a forehand winner before drawing level to one set apiece.
Berrettini raised his level to win the tie-break of the third set 9-7 in fading lights before both players decided to stop because of failing lights and a slippery court. Sonego did not convert his set point at 7-6 in the tie-break of the third set that could have changed the outcome of the match.
Both players resumed the match at 1-1 in the fourth set. Berrettini earned the crucial break in the sixth game, as Sonego hit a forehand unforced error into the net. Sonego hit a tweener volley winner at 2-4. Berrettini was forced to save a break point, slamming serve out wide in the final game, before closing out the win on his second match point.
“I am glad that I won this match because a few days ago I did not think it was possible. I didn’t know if I was ready or not. I did not practice much like you are supposed to do before a tournament, before a Grand Slam. At the same time, my will to play was bigger than my preparation. Unless you try, you are never going to know. Sometimes in the past I stopped before because I felt my body was not ready. This time I forced it a little bit. Now I am feeling good”, said Berrettini.
Berrettini avenged his defeat against Sonego in Stuttgart last month. The 2021 Wimbledon finalist set up a second round match against Alex De Minaur, who rallied from losing the first set to beat Belgian qualifier Kimmer Coppejans 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-2).
