Berrettini inspires Italy to big victory in United Cup

03.01.2023 - 17:15 channelnewsasia.com

BRISBANE : Matteo Berrettini powered past Casper Ruud on Tuesday to help Italy clinch their United Cup tie against Norway and reach the next round of the inaugural mixed team tournament where they will take on Poland for a spot in the semi-finals.In a rematch of their U.S.

Open quarter-final and Gstaad final, where world number three Ruud prevailed last year, it was Berrettini who took control of the match on the back of his powerful serve to seal a 6-4 6-4 Group E win."Casper, he's a super solid player, he improved so much in the past year.

I knew I had to serve my best," Berrettini, who fired 10 aces and won 88 per cent of points on his first-serve, said."We know each other well, so we're always studying what we're doing and I knew that I had to serve like that.

One thing is knowing and one thing is doing it, but I'm really glad it worked out pretty well."Berrettini's victory over the French Open and U.S.

victory cup Lucia Bronzetti Matteo Berrettini Magda Linette Jessica Pegula Casper Ruud Lorenzo Musetti Britain France Germany Switzerland Italy Usa Norway Poland

Stefanos Tsitsipas continued his serene progress through the draw to set up a rematch with Jannik Sinner in the fourth round of the Australian Open. The Greek third seed is the highest-ranked player remaining following the exits of Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud and arrived in Melbourne full of confidence following an unbeaten start to the season. He is yet to drop a set and defeated another in-form player in Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-2 7-6 (5) 6-3.

Australian Open: Michael Mmoh progresses to third round

Michael Mmoh defeated 12th-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany 6/7(1), 6/4, 6/3, 6/2 to advance in a match played in Margaret Court Arena. The result continued the gale of upsets in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Murray wins Australian Open epic as Djokovic overcomes injury fear

MELBOURNE: Andy Murray triumphed in an epic, five-set Australian Open battle which finished in the early hours of Friday in Melbourne after nine-time champion Novak Djokovic defied injury and a drunken heckler to progress to the third round.Murray hit back to defeat home hope and 159th-ranked Thanasi Kokkinakis 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 7-5 — the match finishing at just after 04:00.At five hours and 45 minutes it was the longest match in Murray’s career.Djokovic, chasing a 10th Australian Open and men’s record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam, defeated 191st-ranked French qualifier Enzo Couacaud 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-0.Ons Jabeur was prime among the numerous seeds to crash out on Thursday although most of the carnage occurred in the men’s draw — second seed Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev and Diego Schwartzman were all sent packing.Former world number one Murray, 35, will play 24th seed Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in round three after his second successive five-set triumph this week.“It was unbelievable that I managed to do it, to turn it around,” said the three-time Grand Slam champion, who has a metal hip and looked on the verge of retirement four years ago at Melbourne Park.“I don’t know how I managed to get through it.”Murray had stunned Italian 13th seed Matteo Berrettini in his opening match in another five-setter.Despite the drama, serious questions were being asked of the late finish.“It is essential we create better rules in tennis regarding the weather (light and wind) and starting times or cutoff times for matches,” tweeted tennis legend Martina Navratilova.“Murray and Kokkinakis will finish around 4am.

'I deserved to win', says Murray after Berrettini upset at Australian Open

MELBOURNE : Andy Murray has always been his own harshest critic but the Scot allowed himself a rare smile and a pat on the back after his gruelling first-round victory over 13th seed Matteo Berrettini at the Australian Open on Tuesday.