Berrettini sets up third-round must-see match with Murray

Italian Matteo Berrettini, the No 13 seed, edged out French lucky loser Hugo Grenier 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) to move into the third round of the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Wednesday.

“I didn’t start the best way” said Berrettini after the match. “Then I told myself that I had time, that it’s a best-of-five match. I had time to figure it out, to get better, to have more energy, to play better. I’m really happy that I was able to do it early in the second set.

“Then in the third and the fourth, I was feeling better. I had more chances, but I couldn’t convert them. We went to the breakers. I played better than him in the important moments. That was the key. It was really tough to play today, really windy, not really humid like the other day. The balls were flying a little bit more. That’s tennis. You have to figure it out, adjust during the match. I’m glad that I did that.”

Berrettini on Murray : “All the matches were great fights”

Berrettini, ranked No 14, won against Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry (6-2, 6-3, 6-3) in the previous round of the Flushing Meadows, will play Andy Murray next. He leads 2-1 in their head to head.

“All the matches were great fights”, Berrettini stated. “Andy is now in way better shape than he used to be, especially last year. He’s a legend of the sport. I think it’s going to be a great match, a tough one for me. I always like to play here, especially in big stages, big matches like the one I’m about to play. I’m confident and I’m ready.”

That was a big chance missed by Berrettini’s French opponent, Grenier. Ranked No 119, he edged out Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry (4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4).

You might also like this

US Open: Rune makes third round after Isner withdrew

tennis majors

US Open: Moutet advances to third round, defeating seed No 21 van de Zandschulp

tennis majors

Exclusive: “We still have to discover his limits” – Santopadre talks about his “special” coach-player relationship with Berrettini

tennis majors

US Open, New York City (Grand Slam), other second-round results

• Andy Murray beat Emilio Nava (WC): 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-0
• Corentin Moutet (LL) beat Botic van de Zandschulp (21): 6-4, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4
• Pedro Cachin beat Brandon Holt (Q): 1-6, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (6)
• Alex De Minaur (18) beat Cristian Garin: 6-3, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2
• Pablo Carreno Busta (12) beat Alexander Bublik: 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (5)