Tennis: Berrettini beats Ruud at United Cup as Sakkari puts Greece through
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Matteo Berrettini of Italy hits a return against Norway's Casper Ruud during their singles match at the United Cup.
PHOTO: AFP
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BRISBANE – Matteo Berrettini put Italy into the city final of the inaugural United Cup with a brilliant attacking win over world No. 3 Casper Ruud in Brisbane on Tuesday, while Maria Sakkari helped send Greece through in Perth.
Berrettini broke Ruud once in each set for a clinical 6-4, 6-4 triumph that gave Italy an unassailable 3-0 lead over Norway.
Poland set up their meeting with Italy when Magda Linette rallied to beat Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 to give her country the 3-1 advantage.
The winners of each city final in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth will play the semi-finals in Sydney, along with the best-performing team from the beaten finalists.
Ruud, who had a brilliant 2022, went into the match as the slight favourite, but Berrettini was superb from the outset.
He served well throughout and his powerful groundstrokes put the Norwegian under enormous pressure. Berrettini hit 10 aces and eight forehand winners, with the power and placement of his shot-making causing big problems.
The Italian, who has slipped to 16th in the world, said he knew he had to serve well against Ruud.
“He’s improved so much in the last year so I knew that I had to serve my best,” said Berrettini.
“We know each other pretty well so I knew I had to serve like that. But it’s one thing knowing I had to and one thing doing it.”
Lucia Bronzetti later made it 4-0 for the Italians with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Ulrikke Eikeri. They also won the mixed doubles clash to finish the tie 5-0.
In Perth, world No. 6 Sakkari downed Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6-1, 7-5 to ensure Greece moved through to the final with a 4-1 win.
“I knew the match would be critical, so I was nervous, especially against a world-class player like Elise,” Sakkari said. “When you play a regular tournament and you lose, it’s just for yourself, but I wanted to win today for the team more than myself. It means a lot to play for your country.”
Up next for Greece are Croatia, who took a decisive 3-1 lead over France as Borna Gojo battled from 5-3 down in the third set to outlast Adrian Mannarino 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) in an epic battle that lasted almost three hours.
In Sydney, world No. 3 Jessica Pegula of the United States comprehensively defeated Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-3, 6-2.
“She’s always really tricky. She’s really feisty and has a lot of tools, but I think conditions are really fast here so I just tried to rush her and play my game,” said Pegula. “I think I did that really well today.”
Frances Tiafoe downed Oscar Otte 7-5, 6-4, before Pegula and Tiafoe joined forces to win their mixed doubles match to make it 5-0.
The United States, who had already qualified for the city final, will play Britain in the Sydney decider. AFP
