Matteo Berrettini's return to high-level tennis has hit another snag, as the Italian player was ousted from the ATP 500 tournament at Rotterdam after facing the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor. The match, which unfolded on February 5, saw Berrettini lose with the scores of 6-3, 6-7, and 7-6 after nearly two and a half hours of play.
The tournament, known as the ABN AMRO Open, took place at the Rotterdam Ahoy, featuring notable players with substantial rankings including Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev. Berrettini, currently ranked 33rd by the ATP, was hoping to make significant strides after struggling lately to regain his form following injury setbacks.
During the match, Berrettini initially struggled, dropping the first set relatively quickly. Griekspoor capitalized on Berrettini’s double fault when serving at 30-30, allowing him to break serve and secure the first set 6-3. Despite this rocky start, Berrettini responded with resilience, particularly shining during the second set.
After holding serve with improvement, Berrettini found himself tied with Griekspoor and forced the set to tiebreak, where he dominated, only allowing his opponent two points. This turnaround was impressive, rekindling hopes for Berrettini as he pushed the match to the final set.
The third set proved to be equally tense, with both players holding their serves with no breaks. Berrettini appeared poised to take control but faltered as he found himself tied again at 4-4. Heading to yet another tiebreak, fatigue seemed to settle on the Italian as Griekspoor closed the match with four straight points after Berrettini had led at one point.
After the match, reflections painted the picture of Berrettini's continuing struggle for consistency. Despite serving 13 aces and winning 86% of his first serve points, his 34 unforced errors contrasted sharply against Griekspoor's 29. The final decisive moments featured Berrettini’s issues with two double faults under pressure, moments which proved all too pivotal for his fate.
Berrettini's exit marks yet another hurdle as he tries to regain his place among tennis's elite. His path back to form has been met with challenges, including his recent defeat at the Australian Open earlier this year. After overcoming injuries, fans remained hopeful to see Berrettini return to winning form but today’s match illustrated the task still at hand.
Meanwhile, Griekspoor will advance to face Greek superstar Stefanos Tsitsipas. Tsitsipas is one of the notable players of this tournament, also receiving notable mentions alongside world-class players such as Alcaraz and Medvedev, who were expected to make deep runs.
The disappointment for Berrettini resonates not just for him but for Italian tennis overall, as he is seen as one of the country’s premier talents. His performance today, indicative of the challenges he faces as he seeks greater consistency, intensifies the anticipation for his next tournaments. The Italian tennis community hopes he can overcome these obstacles once again and get back on track toward achieving the success he is capable of delivering.
With Berrettini’s exit, the tournament sees other players shine, including Andrea Vavassori, who advanced to the round of 16 after benefiting from Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime’s withdrawal due to injury. Vavassori's upcoming match against Carlos Alcaraz adds another layer of competition to this year's event, showcasing the burgeoning talent present within Italian tennis.
For now, the narrative remains divided: Griekspoor moves on, and Berrettini reflects on his performance, aiming to recalibrate before his next opportunity to compete on the ATP tour.