After Wawrinka comes Djokovic: Berrettini, don’t mess around!
One of the most anticipated matches of the first round of the U.S. Open is the clash between Matteo Berrettini and Stan Wawrinka, winner of the prestigious tournament in 2016. The Swiss player, now in the twilight of his career, received a last-minute wild card and, at 41, will try once again to make his mark on the hard courts of the U.S. Open. On the other side, Berrettini—if he manages to arrive at Flushing Meadows in good physical condition—has all the qualities needed to challenge and defeat any opponent. Whoever advances will, in all likelihood, face Novak Djokovic: an added incentive.
The two have already faced each other this year, and the head-to-head record strongly favors the Italian: at Wimbledon, Berrettini defeated Wawrinka in a marathon match lasting four hours and a quarter, with all four sets decided in tiebreaks. It was an epic battle, ending with a score of 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6, which saw the Swiss player break down in tears at the end of what turned out to be his final match at the Championships. This victory will certainly serve as a source of confidence for Berrettini, even though he knows that playing conditions on American hard courts differ radically from those on the London grass.
The road to New York, however, was not without obstacles for the Roman. After Wimbledon, Berrettini had to deal with a chronic hip problem that forced him to miss several weeks of competition. The player himself announced the hiatus on social media, explaining that he had followed his doctors’ advice to rest so he would be ready for the American tour. His stated goal had always been to return to the court for the U.S. Open, and it appears he’s pulled it off.
Diego Nargiso, a former Italian tennis player and commentator for Supertennis, also spoke optimistically about him: “We just have to hope he’s doing well. If he finds his rhythm and makes it to the second week, he can beat almost anyone.” These words perfectly capture Berrettini’s situation: a player with enormous potential, whose only real unknown factor remains his physical condition.
The overall context of the tournament is further shaken up by the absence of Jannik Sinner, who was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury. The world No. 1 won’t be in the mix, which opens up unprecedented scenarios in the upper half of the draw, where Berrettini is also seeded. According to former Belgian champion Kim Clijsters, interviewed on the Love All podcast, “It’s hard to pick a favorite, especially now that Sinner is out. It seems to me that everything is really wide open.” An open field that, provided he’s in good physical condition, can only work in the Italian’s favor.
