By Alberto Amalfi | Sunday, June 16, 2019

 

Matteo Berrettini did not face a break point out-dueling Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-4, 7-6 (11), to claim his first career grass-court crown in Stuttgart.

Photo credit: Mercedes Cup Facebook

Matteo Berrettini made a dynamic title splash on grass.

The explosive Berrettini did not face a break point defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-4, 7-6 (11) to capture his first career grass-court championship in Stuttgart without surrendering serve in the tournament.

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Untouchable on serve, Berrettini won all 50 service games en route to the title.

A red-hot Berrettini has won 17 of his last 20 matches raising his 2019 record to 23-12. 

“On grass, the first tournament of the year, beating these unbelievable guys… there were a lot of tough moments,” said Berrettini afterward. “I never lost my serve, but all the matches were so close and I’m really happy for what I did on the court because it was mentally really difficult to stay there and I’m really proud of myself."

The 23-year-old Berrettini is the first Italian to win an ATP grass-court crown since Andreas Seppi claimed the 2011 Eastbourne title.

It is Berrettini's third career title, including his second championship of the season following his victory on the red clay of Budapest in April.

The title caps a commanding week for Berrettini, who did not drop serve in five tournament wins. Berrettini beat Nick Kyrgios, second-seeded Karen Khachanov, Denis Kudla, German Jan-Lennard Struff and Auger-Aliassime without surrendering a set in the tournament.

The 6'5" Italian won 41 of 44 first-serve points and fought off five set points in the second-set tie breaker in handing the 18-year-old Auger-Aliassime his third finals loss of the season following setbacks in Rio and Lyon.

Though Berrettini's aggressive game is based on his damaging serve and disruptive forehand, today he used his slice backhand to good effect. Berrettini broke in the third game then backed up the break at 15 for 3-1. 

Bidding for his first ATP title, Auger-Aliassime earned double set point at 6-4 in the tie breaker when the Italian scattered a forehand. Berrettini saved the first with a biting serve and Auger-Aliassime narrowly missed an ace on the second set point. Replay showed the ball barely missed the center stripe.

On the third set point, Berrettini blasted a big serve to erase it for 7-all. Auger-Aliassime hammered a big serve to save championship point for 8-all.

The Canadian No. 2 slashed successive aces, saving a second championship point at 9-10 and earning a fifth set point.

Berrettini blitzed his sixth ace to save the final set point and closed a one hour, 47-minute win on his third championship point.