Miami: Berrettini to applause but into semifinals goes Fritz

Berrettini exits, with his head held high, from the Miami Masters 1000 tournament. The Italian played on an equal footing with Fritz but, in the end, had to surrender and say goodbye to his dream of winning a pass to the semifinals. The American won in three sets (7-5, 6-7, 7-5 the partials).

In the first set, balance on the court with breaks on either side. At 6-5 in his favor, the American gave himself two set balls and, on the second, closed the score. Reaction d’pride of Berrettini who does not take it and, with serve and forehand, manages to take the set to the tie-break where, on the 8-7 in his favor, he closes with his forehand. In the third and decisive partial, at 5-5, on the third break point, Fritz took the game and then never looked back, closing 7-5.

Good, however, the performance of Berrettini who, for two hours and 44 minutes, put Fritz in great difficulty, who was called to overtime to fly to the semifinals where he will face the Czech Mensik.

“I played one of my best matches ever on this surface, the ending was a little bitter because of the result. I am proud because playing an even match with such a tennis player on concrete is not a given. There were never ideal conditions to play our best in Miami, too bad because the semifinal was a couple of points away. Fortunately there will be other tournaments and other opportunities” his words to Sky Sports.