Matteo Berrettini tried once again, but Taylor Fritz still remains an unsurpassed obstacle for the Roman tennis playerwhich was beaten for the fifth time in five direct clashes. This time it happened in the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 of Miami, where Berrettini also caressed the idea of finally having the best after saving himself from a defeat that at the tie break of the second set seemed inevitable. Below 6-3 in the decisive game after losing the first game 7-5, the Italian canceled a series of matches of the rival by imposing 9-7 and earning access to the third set, where however the n.4 in the world managed to get the better.
“The ending was a little bitter for the result – commented Berrettini -. I am proud because playing an equal game with such a tennis player on cement is not obvious. Too bad because the semifinal was a couple of points». The release of the Roman was followed by that, yesterday, by Jasmine Paolini, canceling the blue presence in the tournament in Florida. Tuscany was clearly beaten in the quarterfinals from the number one in the world, Aryna Sabalenka, but can return to smile having started to find the happy vein of 2024. And Miami gave good signals also to caps, who stressed that he had played against Fritz “one of my best games ever on this surface. There were never the ideal conditions for playing Miami. Fortunately, there will be other tournaments and other occasions ».
Berrettini managed to cancel six match points at the rival in the second set, coming loaded and positive in the third to try to reach the semifinal, but Fritz managed not to be overwhelmed and to close the match in his favor after two hours and 45 of spectacular game. “Matteo raised his level and played very well in the third, so I had to commit myself to impose myself,” said Fritz, who will face the Czech Jakub Messik in the semifinal. The other male semifinal will face Novak Djokovic, who became the oldest player at 37 to enter the top four in Miami, and the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. The women’s tournament will decide with the final between Sabalenka and the American Jessica Pegula, who had to fight for three sets to get the best of the Filipin Alex Eala, revelation of the tournament, imposing himself 7-6, 5-7, 6-3. “I gave everything I had, I am like a mummy – said Eala, who entered the field with a bandaged thigh and then ankle ankle in the middle of the second set – but I have no regrets. To have a week like this, the stars must align and have done it this time, and I hope to continue like this: this is my goal now, continue like this ».