Wimbledon 2024: Jannik Sinner battles past Matteo Berrettini in 'very high-level match' to reach third round
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/05/02/image-dfe2a7b1-16b3-40a7-aa20-5e002e65941a-68-310-310.jpeg)
Updated 04/07/2024 at 14:21 GMT+1
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner kept his quest for Wimbledon glory alive with a second-round win over Matteo Berrettini, but he was pushed hard by the former SW19 runner-up in a gruelling encounter. Sinner won all three of his sets in tie-breaks and found it tough to break his opponent's serve, but said after that he was "very happy with how I handled the situation". Sinner faces Miomir Kecmanovic next.
'It makes me feel unbelievable!' - Best bits from Wimbledon Day 3 as Raducanu, Alcaraz, Gauff win
Video credit: SNTV
Jannik Sinner battled past former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini to reach the third round at SW19 after winning three tie-breaks in a marathon all-Italian epic.
The world No. 1 squeezed into a 2-0 lead by winning back-to-back tie-breaks after an opening where break opportunities were few and far between. Â Â
Berrettini battled back in impressive fashion to take the third set and claimed an early break in the fourth, but Sinner responded in style to claim a 7-6(3) 7-6(4) 2-6 7-6(4) win after three hours and 42 minutes of fierce competition on Centre Court.
"I knew I had to raise my level today if I wanted to play at an even level against him," Sinner said.
"He has played a final here, he's a grass court specialist. I was looking forward to it, for me it was a challenge.
"I'm very happy how I handled the situation, there were some little ups and downs, which is normal in four or five sets. I can be happy, we will see what's coming in the next round."
Sinner, the top seed at SW19, will face Miomir Kecmanovic next as he continues his bid for a second Grand Slam of the year – and his career - following his Australian Open triumph in January. Â
He faced a tough challenge against the huge serve and hitting of Berrettini, who landed 28 aces and 65 winners during the match, but Sinner's unforced error count of 25 - almost half his opponent's figure of 48 - and his mental strength in the tie-breaks helped him find a way against his compatriot.
"We are very good friends. We play Davis Cup together, sometimes we practice together," Sinner said.
"It was tough that we had to face (each other) in the second round at such an important tournament.
"Today was a very high-level match. I think we both played really well. In three tie-breaks, sometimes I got a bit lucky. I'll take it for today."
There was only one break point in the entire first set, coming at 5-4 as Sinner pushed to close things early, but Berrettini held off his compatriot to force a tie-break.
A seventh ace of the set helped Berrettini into an early lead, but Sinner fought back for a 4-2 mini-break at the change of ends. From there, the world No. 1 didn’t let his advantage slip as he set up three set points and took the first one going.
Things opened up marginally more in set two as break points started to come and go more regularly, and Berrettini seized the initiative when Sinner stuck a drop shot in the net to hand his rival a 4-2 lead.
But the top seed broke back immediately in a hammer blow to his opponent and another tie-break soon loomed, culminating in the same outcome as Sinner roared into an early lead that he refused to relent as he went two sets up.
The big serving world No. 56 did not let his head drop and instead came out firing by breaking Sinner for the first time in the opening game of the third set.
The 2021 runner-up looked fired up as he held off break-back point to consolidate before securing the double break to go 4-1 up and serving out the remainder of the set to raise hopes of a sensational comeback.
Sinner was soon up against it again in the fourth, having to save an early break point with some aggressive tennis but then netting a forehand to give Berrettini another early break.
But the Melbourne champion showed his class by breaking back immediately, and after Berrettini saved match point in his final service game, a third tie-break loomed.
Sinner locked in quickly once again as took control to earn three match points, claiming the second thanks to a ferocious return to close out the toughest of second-round tests.
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.
Related Topics
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/geo/country/flag/large/2210.png)