By Alberto Amalfi | Friday, July 22, 2022
Two points from defeat, Matteo Berrettini battled by Pedro Martinez 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 to set up a Swiss Open Gstaad semifinal vs. Dominic Thiem.
Photo credit: Getty
Staring down a 1-5 deficit in the second-set tiebreaker, Matteo Berrettini felt the red clay beneath his feet becoming sink hole.
Berrettini wielded his ferocious forehand to dig out a spirited rally.
More: Petition to Permit Djokovic to Play US Open
Two points from defeat, the second-seeded Berrettini roared back to beat Pedro Martinez 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 and battle into the Swiss Open Gstaad semifinals.
It is Berrettini's 11th straight victory and the Queen's Club champion conceded afterward he had nearly given up hope.
“Sometimes it is just tennis. It is a crazy sport," Berrettini said. "At 1-5 I thought I was done. Then I played two good points and it was 3-5 and I thought ‘let’s try’
“I don’t think I played my best match here. But sometimes it is important to win when you are not playing well. I managed to find some energy inside me and I am really happy to be through.”
The 2021 Wimbledon finalist looked down and out at 1-5 in the tiebreaker.
When Martinez's return went long, Berrettini cut the deficit to 4-5.
The Italian owns one of the most menacing forehands in the sport and unleashed it smacking successive diagonal forehand winners for a 6-5 lead and set point.
Berrettini blasted a forehand crosscourt to take the second set on a five-point run before powering through the third set.
The victory vaults Berrettini into tomorrow's semifinal showdown vs. Dominic Thiem.
Former world No. 3 opened today's play posting a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Peruvian qualifier Juan Pablo Varillas.
This will be the sixth meeting between players who possess two of the biggest forehands in the game. Berrettini has won three of five meetings vs. 2020 US Open champion Thiem.
“Dominic has had an unbelievable career,” Berrettini said. “He is a Slam champion and he got injured, but he is coming back. I saw some of him today and his level is coming back, so it is going to be a tough match. We always play great matches, so tomorrow will be a good one.”
Reigning champion Casper Ruud fended off tough Spaniard Jaume Munar 7-6(3), 7-6(4) to advance to his fifth semifinal of the season.
The top-seeded Ruud has won nine of his last 11 clay-court matches improving to 23-7 on dirt this year.