By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Saturday, July 27, 2024
Matteo Berrettini beat Hugo Gaston 7-5, 6-3 in the Kitzbuhel final capturing his 10th career ATP title with his 10th consecutive victory.
A precise Matteo Berrettini crafted a pair of perfect 10s in Kitzbuhel.
The red-hot Berrettini beat Hugo Gaston 7-5, 6-3 in today’s Kitzbuhel final capturing his 10th career ATP title with his 10th consecutive victory.
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It’s the second straight title for Berrettini, who won Gstaad last weekend.
Berrettini boasts a 15-1 clay-court record in 2024 and is growing quite comfortable with champagne celebratory showers.
The big-hitting Italian has won 20 consecutive sets joining world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who beat Berrettini at Wimbledon, and reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz as just the third man to win three or more Tour-level titles in 2024.
“I’m just really tired and really happy,” Berrettini said. “Hugo, great week, great player, tough player to beat. We need players like you with this talent on court.”
World No. 50 Berrettini cracked 25 winners—12 more than the left-handed Frenchman—and converted all four break points he earned in an 81-minute victory.
Setting the tone on serve, Berrettini served 75 percent with eight aces against no double faults and won 80 percent of his first-serve points.
Facing the first break point of the final at 30-40 in the eighth game, Berrettini repelled a tremendous return down the line from the Frenchman with a super full-stretch squash shot forehand winner. That improvised brilliance helped Berrettini hold to level after eight games.
Deadlocked at 5-all, Berrettini showed his touch using the drop shot to open the game then rattling out a wide forehand from the Frenchman to score the first break for 6-5.
Throwing down heavy serves, Berrettini closed the 43-minute opening set at love.
The 2021 Wimbledon finalist sealed a strong serving set. Berrettini blasted seven aces without a double fault, won 21 of 25 first-serve points and saved the lone break point he faced in the eighth game.
Empowered, Berrettini broke for a 3-2 second-set lead winning four of the final four games for his 10th career title.
"It's been a crazy two weeks playing my best level of tennis," Berrettini said. "Thanks to you guys, thanks to my team, to my family back home and to everybody.
"Congrats to Hugo for a great week, he's been playing really well."