Stefanos Tsitsipas has fought back from a set down to beat Matteo Berrettini in the United Cup semi-final and maintain his ominous form heading into the Australian Open.
The first heavyweight men’s match of the summer lived up to the hype as world No.4 Tsitsipas prevailed 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 to keep Greece alive at 2-1 in their tie with Italy.
Tsitsipas, who has never lost to Berrettini, has now won all four of his United Cup singles matches.
Even if Greece don’t progress to the final against the United States, he will enter his Melbourne Park campaign high on confidence.
The 24-year-old is attempting to break his grand slam duck this summer and delighted in his resilience against Berrettini’s fierce serve, including breaking the Italian at 3-3 in the decider.
“I had to start from returning a few balls of the serve which I was struggling with in the beginning but somehow I hung in there,” Tsitsipas told the Nine Network.
“I was wait ing for my chances. He’s a big server, we all know it, he hits some big serves consistently.
“So you have to accept a few and you have to move on from that point, concentrate on your serve.
“I played a very good game on that game that I broke, I was able to play with a lot of intensity and I think my concentration peaked at that particular game.”
It was disappointing for Berrettini, whose serve appeared in perfect nick until it let him down in the second-set tiebreak and the deciding set.
Even Tsitsipas’ win might only be a stay of execution for Greece’s hopes
Lowly ranked Despina Papamichail will have to pull off a dramatic upset over Lucia Bronzetti to force a deciding mixed doubles rubber.
Berrettini broke Tsitsipas at 3-3 in the first set but required three set points to take the upper hand.
Tsitsipas took the second set to a tiebreak, where Berrettini, who had only dropped one point on serve for the set, fe ll away.
The Greek star claimed a double mini b reak early, earned four set points then closed out the set with an ace.
Tsitsipas saved one break point when trailing 2-3 in the decider and converted the first of two break points in the next game.
Serving for the match, Tsitsipas earned two match points and coolly dispatched the first to complete his comeback
Source: AAP
