Matteo Berrettini, a Tuesday Fit for Champions: A Prestigious Victory Snatched at the Last Minute

A more than convincing debut for Matteo Berrettini at the Paris Masters 1000. Against world No. 18 Brandon Nakashima, the Italian showcased the qualities that have long made him one of the most admired players on the tour, but which frequent physical problems in recent years had somewhat overshadowed. The final score was 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(8) in favor of the Roman, who clinched the match after two hours and twelve minutes of play.

After winning the first set without much difficulty, Berrettini hit a rough patch toward the end of the second set, partly due to a break he conceded that put Nakashima up 5-3; Nakashima then closed out the set in the very next game. The third set was decidedly thrilling: the endless back-and-forth between the two led to a tiebreak, where Nakashima had his first match point at 6-5, which Berrettini promptly saved.

The Roman, leading 2-0, then had his own chance to close out the match, but this time it was the American who fought back, mounting a comeback that earned him a second match point. With his back against the wall, Berrettini showed himself, Nakashima, and the Parisian crowd why he had long been ranked among the top 10, with three consecutive points that first allowed him to save the match point and then secure the winning point.

Berrettini already knows the name of his next opponent in the second round, and he’s another player who certainly shouldn’t be underestimated: Frenchman Ugo Humbert, ranked No. 38 in the ATP rankings, who defeated Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp (ranked 37th in the world) 7-6(5), 6(9)-7, 6-3.