Match report
Berrettini conquers Van de Zandschulp on Day 1 in Tokyo
Italian advances to second spherical, Navone beats Darderi
September 25, 2024
YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP through Getty Photographs
Matteo Berrettini reaches second spherical in Tokyo
By ATP workers
Can Matteo Berrettini develop into the second participant to win 4 or extra ATP Tour titles this week on the 2024 Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships?
The Italian made a formidable begin in Tokyo on Wednesday, when he defeated Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4 underneath a closed roof to advance to the second spherical.
“After I noticed that I needed to play a qualifying match, I knew it was going to be robust,” Berrettini stated after his one-hour-and-30-minute triumph. “I believe centre court docket is a bit slower, so I do not thoughts, I can use the spin a bit. The serve labored effectively as we speak, I believe [the court] fits my recreation and I hope I’ll have a great run.”
The Dutchman had simply secured a shock victory over Carlos Alcaraz on the US Open, however Berrettini managed to neutralize each risk. The Italian, who’s ranked forty fifth within the PIF ATP Rankings, hit 22 winners in response to Infosys ATP Stats en path to a hard-fought victory.
Berrettini says Arigato 🙌@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis photo.twitter.com/c9jf2KElzN
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 25, 2024
Throughout the ATP 500 occasion in Tokyo, the 28-year-old confirmed his most ruthless tennis. He prolonged his report in opposition to lower-ranked gamers in 2024 to 15-0 and his Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence to 4-0 in opposition to van de Zandschulp.
The previous world No. 6 within the PIF ATP Rankings joins Jannik Sinner (6) and Alcaraz (3) as the one males to have gained three or extra ATP Tour titles in 2024, having gained trophies on clay in Marrakech, Gstaad and Kitzbuhel.
Berrettini was knocked out within the second spherical of the US Open final month by eventual finalist Taylor Fritz, however now returns to the ATP Tour seeking to finish the season with flying colors and set up himself as one of many contenders to go deep on his debut in Tokyo.
He might face the American for the second consecutive match within the second spherical if the top-seeded Fritz manages to beat #NextGenATP star Arthur Fils in his opening match on Thursday.
Within the first match of the day, Mariano Navone defeated Luciano Darderi 6-4, 6-4 to assert his second Tour-level victory on hardcourt, the opposite 15 on his favoured clay. The Argentine gained 75 p.c of first-serve factors and saved eight of 9 break factors (89 p.c) on his option to a well-deserved triumph.