Berrettini perfect, beats Shapovalov and flies to the quarterfinals in Stuttgart

Matteo Berrettini (photo Getty Images)

Constant and precise service, monumental backhand to undermine the rival’s certainties and above all to come to the net with an excellent position and thus be able to close in flight safely. Strengthened by these two certainties, essential to shine on grass, Matteo Berrettini plays a splendid match in the round of 16 of the 250 in Stuttgart: he beats Denis Shapovalov 6-4 6-4 and qualifies for the quarter-finals, where he awaits Duckworth who defeated the American Shelton. This is the Berrettini we like, offensive and determined, a real nightmare to face on grass. For everyone. Never a moment of pause or difficulty in the 73 minutes of play, in which Matteo conceded and canceled only one break point in his very first serve, then becoming a real machine in the remaining service games. And the excellent news is that it hasn’t become a “nightmare” for his service-only rival: we really liked his reactivity with his feet, very ready to throw himself forward and put pressure on Denis who, in two games (one per set), he felt it all and fell into mistakes that he paid for with defeat.

After returning from the knee problem that forced him to miss half of 2023, Shapovalov is struggling terribly to find a modicum of consistency. He continues to entertain the public with some plays that are as beautiful as they are impossible, but everything else is lacking. He seems almost weakened, and above all the difficulty in managing pressure has completely festered within him. Denis didn’t even play a bad first set, but serving at 4 all… he felt the weight of the moment and stumbled into errors that gave way to Berrettini’s perfect and lucid attack, very ready to take the break. Ditto at 2 all in the second set, where the Canadian even committed two double faults. And it hurt him…

In tennis, knowing how to capitalize on the opponent’s “no” moments is a fundamental skill, and today Matteo confirmed his strength as a competitor. He didn’t receive much pressure from his rival, his usual winning balls never have a logical order and are so extemporaneous as to not lead him to build a consistent break plan… but it remains an excellent performance from a Berrettini who is practically perfect in his games, and also very insightful in response. The Roman closed the match by serving two first out of three and winning 85% of the points, a strength that allowed him to play free and offensive in response. Matteo’s forehand was consistent, but the shot that shone the most in his tennis today was the backhand. An exceptional razor, used both in the exchange and as an approach.

Berrettini prepared the match very well: in fact, offering balls that jump very low to Denis is perfect, given his rather wide openings, and furthermore this gave him the time to return to the center of the field when moved to the side, and above all to run to the net. Many approaches to the net, for once as a real grass net player, it almost seemed like we were back in the 90s… and it was a beauty. Classic approaches, well executed for time and depth, which never left the opponent with a ball that was easy for the passer to hit. 11 points scored on 16 runs, he won almost all of them and all of them were chosen in the ideal moments to attack. Perfect.

Really a nice Berrettini. It was feared that the great effort of the debut might pay off on his legs; instead Matteo was quick, decisive, very ready to attack. The opponent was not very consistent and fortunately the match was very quick, but we really liked today’s Berrettini, he is much closer to that tennis player who was almost unplayable on the lawns in past years. Now he probably awaits Shelton, and it will be a different game. In the meantime, let’s take this beautiful victory, the race in Stuttgart continues, after this solid victory with much more confidence.

Marco Mazzoni

The news

Shapovalov starts the match with a perfect turn of serve, and his backhand creates the usual wonders in response too. With an elusive tracer he surprises Berrettini at 30 all, Matteo faces an immediate break point. The Roman clings to his safest scheme: external serve and straight shot, this time along the line, winning. Another elusive forehand from Matteo arrives, this time along the line, already in Tuesday’s debut the “hand” from the right worked well. 1 all. As always, Denis creates and destroys with equal effectiveness… At 30 all comes a long rally, Berrettini moves really well and with a long backhand cut he causes the Canadian to make a mistake. Shapo cancels the first break point with a perfect attacking forehand. The game is complex: the two challenge each other across the board and each exchange sees a very varied range of possible solutions. Well done to Matteo also choosing the classic backhand back attack, also finding good depth. Good overall quality, and balance (2 ties). The blue entered the match very well, he literally whitened the lines with the serve, attacked with determination and also fluid movements of the legs, the fear that Tuesday’s tough battle had left some waste has now been chased away. Serving down 4-3, Matteo commits a double fault, then an error, the score reads a dangerous 15-30. He gets out of the hole with the serve, the second ball full of spin is excellent, he jumps very high, unstoppable. 4 all. We enter the final rush, the tension rises and… as always… Shapovalov feels it all. A trivial error that interrupts a streak of 11 points in a row, then a short attack and Matteo is good at finding the passer. 0-30! Berrettini could have done better in response, but the game still goes to the advantage. The winning backhand return from the left is fantastic, there is a fight, and it is important to put pressure on a talent like Denis but not a solid one. With a totally incorrect advancing forehand the Canadian concedes the break point. And no first ball on the pitch… Double fault! Shapo disaster, the first DF costs him the BREAK, Berrettini can serve at 5-4. Matteo serves well, then a great backhand, a razor that almost doesn’t bounce. He closes on the second set point, with a perfect trajectory from the right. A set of great substance, with 79% of firsts on the court and 50% of the points won on the Canadian’s second, who collapsed in the ninth game due to poor play.

After the blackout, Denis gets off to a flying start in the second set, a great serve; Matteo follows him closely, very confident on serve. Serves dominate, but it is very interesting how powerful Berrettini’s backhand is against the Canadian’s backhand, both in the approach to the net and in the exchange. Shapo throws some shots from him, which make you jump out of your seat, but they are ephemeral bursts, they don’t lead him to build a break chance. Serving at 2 all, Denis gets nervous, commits two double faults and complains to the referee, as if something had disturbed him between the first and second balls. Collapses 15-40, and Berrettini does NOT have to wait: solid response blocked, he attacks the net with his backhand and volleys out with arrogance. Matteo is excellent, ready to take the BREAK at the first uncertainty of his rival, he is ahead 3-2 and serve. He is impressed by Berrettini’s speed in attacking the net, he attacks immediately and does it very well, thanks to a really fast serve today. Denis goes all out, finds a shocking response, somehow forces the game to take advantage, but the blue is very good at coming to the net with perfect timing and serving well. He wins a great game, which confirms his reactivity and clarity. 4-2. Matteo’s backhand scheme along the line on Shapovalov’s backhand and safe volley closure is very safe, also because the Canadian always plays it along the line, predictably. 5-3 Berrettini, one step away from victory. It is used to close the Roman game to 5-4, the first ball doesn’t help in the first three points, but Shapo takes care of giving a bad response in the third point. At 30-15 here is the blow with the forehand, long deep line which earns him the double Match Point. The first one is enough, the Canadian’s response cut flies away. He beats Denis for the first time and gets the seventh quarterfinal of his career on grass. 73 minutes of continuous and offensive tennis, also with little effort and a lot of substance.

2T Berrettini – Shapovalov CAN