Matteo Berrettini capped his return to the tour following hand surgery with his sixth tour title. He beat Scotland’s Andy Murray in three sets at the Stuttgart Open.
Matteo Berrettini won his first title of the season Sunday, besting former World No. 1 Andy Murray 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in the BOSS OPEN final in Stuttgart.
The Italian missed the clay season after undergoing a minor operation on his right hand in late March. Berrettini continued his winning run at the German grass court tournament, having won it on his last outing there in 2019. He now has a 28-6 win record on grass.
“It is unbelievable. It was obviously a goal [to win the title], but I thought it would be really, really tough,” Berrettini said. “I don’t even think I played my best tennis, but that is why I am even more proud of myself. Mentally I was really tough. I did an unbelievable job to be there. I fought hard and this means a lot.”
Tight final between players returning from injury
It was a tight final, but the second seed demonstrated good footwork to dictate play on his forehand. Berrettini triumphed after two hours and 35 minutes, taking his head-to-head record against the Scot to 2-1.
“My body is hurting a little bit,” Berrettini said when reflecting on how he feels physically. “It had been three matches without matches and today was almost three hours, so I am feeling it.”
Playing in front of a packed crowd in Germany, Berrettini made a fast start, breaking in the third game to lead. The Italian hit with good precision throughout the first set, taking it after 50 minutes.
However, Murray showed his fighting spirit by responding in the second set. After fending off three break points on serve at 4-4, he capitalised on his chance in the 12th game, seizing the set on his first set point.
Berrettini broke in the first game of the third set as Murray started to tire. The Scot also received a medical timeout, though not for treatment on the hip which underwent surgery on. Berrettini kept his concentration on serve, holding his nerve to capture his sixth tour-level title.
Cinch Championship at Queen’s Club next
The 26-year-old Italian now holds a perfect 9-0 record at the ATP 250 event. He also clinched the crown on grass at The Queen’s Club last year, defeating Cameron Norrie in the final. He went on to become the first Italian man ever to make a Wimbledon final.
The World No. 10 will aim to retain his title at the Cinch Championships next week and could play record five-time champion Murray in the second round.
