Sinner beats Berrettini, Jannik wins derby and goes to third round of Wimbledon

Jannik Sinner beats Matteo Berrettini in the Italian derby in the second round of the men’s singles at Wimbledon 2024The world number 1 won 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 7-6 (7-4) in 3h42′ and entered the third round: he will face the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic who defeated the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, seeded number 27, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 in 2h51′.

Sinner wins his second match in as many head-to-head matches against Berrettini. The 22-year-old from Alto Adige defeats his compatriot by raising the level in the 3 tie-breaks that determine the match. Berrettini, on his most congenial surface, plays on par with the best player in the world, firing 28 aces and serving over 70% of first serves: all this, in an evening with 65 winners, is not enough. Sinner makes very few mistakes (25 unforced errors compared to the 48 of the Roman) and wins.

The Sinner-Berrettini match

The first set is dominated by the serve. Sinner, who cancels the only break point of the set, travels over 70% of first serves. Berrettini exceeds 80%: the epilogue in the tie-break is inevitable and the world number 1 wins 7-3.

The script changes partially in the second set: Berrettini continues to hammer on serve and takes advantage of his rival’s first lapse. The Roman scores the break (4-2) but is unable to defend it, losing his serve with a double fault in the following game. Another tie-break, Sinner again with the automatic pilot (7-4) and the 22-year-old from Alto Adige leads 2 sets to nil.

In the third game, Sinner’s serve almost completely dies: the world number 1 collapses to 44% of first serves, almost never manages to go to the net (4 runs with 2 points) and finds no countermeasures against an opponent who doesn’t make mistakes. Berrettini scores 2 breaks, archives a quick 6-2 and reopens the game.

The Roman starts with his foot on the accelerator also in the fourth set: break in the third game (2-1) and possibility of escape. Sinner, however, is back in the match and responds immediately: immediate counterbreak (2-2).

The balance holds, in the twelfth game Berrettini serves to stay in the match: Sinner gets a break point that is equivalent to a match point but is unable to close the game, it goes to a tie-break again. Berrettini couldn’t do better: he serves 6 first serves with 2 aces, 2 first serves winners, another excellent ball. It’s not enough, because Sinner is perfect: he wins.