By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Thursday, June 20, 2024
Marcos Giron won four of the final five games toppling Matteo Berrettini 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to charge into the Halle quarterfinals.
Photo credit: Getty
Lawn tennis presents slippery—and shallow—challenges.
Attacking the low ball with command, Marcos Giron hit new heights in Halle.
More: Draper Dethrones Alcaraz at Queen's Club
Giron won four of the final five games toppling Matteo Berrettini 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to charge into the Halle quarterfinals.
It is Giron’s 19th career ATP quarterfinal, including his third on grass. Giron reached the final eight in Halle back in 2021, losing to Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Facing 2021 Wimbledon finalist Berrettini today, Giron permitted just eight points on first serve and converted two of four break points, improving his 2024 record to 14-14.
World No. 53 Giron is the first man ranked outside Top 50 to defeat Berrettini on grass since No. 53 Gilles Simon, now part of Daniil Medvedev’s coaching team, did it at 2018 Wimbledon.
Dallas finalist Giron will face Hubert Hurkacz for a place in Saturday’s semifinals.
Former Miami Open champion Hurkacz served 71 percent and pumped 17 aces against no double faults edging Aussie James Duckworth 7-6(3), 6-4.
The 2022 Halle champion Hurkacz carries a 31-12 record into the quarterfinals.
In their lone prior clash, Hurkacz defeated Giron 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 at the 2021 Wimbledon.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner continues his quest for a maiden grass-court title in Halle.
The top-seeded Sinner converted four of 15 break points subduing giant-killer Fabian Marozsan 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3 in two hours, 15 minutes.
It’s the second straight match Sinner dropped a set and prevailed following his opening-round win over Tallon Griekspoor.
Australian Open champion Sinner’s win came as reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz was losing in straight sets to new British No. 1 Jack Draper at Queen’s Club.
Marozsan carried a 4-3 record vs. Top 10 opponents onto court today, including an upset of Alcaraz in Rome last year.
Despite the Hungarian saving 11 break points, Sinner kept calm smacking 12 aces against two double faults and facing only two break points in the match.
The first Italian man to hold the world No. 1 singles ranking will play either sixth-seeded Stefanos Tsitispas or home hero Jan-Lennard Struff for a semifinal spot.
Patient aggression proved pivotal to Giron’s win today—as well as his willingness to go for it when opportunity arrived.
Reading the wide serve, Giron drove a deep return then persistently played to the Italian’s weaker backhand wing. Giron drew the netted reply breaking for 4-2.
Running right, Giron rocketed a forehand strike—one of his best shots of the match at the right time. Berrettini put a forehand off the tape as Giron closed.