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

Matteo Berrettini edged out Hugo Grenier 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) on Wednesday. He’ll face Andy Murray in the next round

Matteo Berrettini of Italy gestures to his box during a match against Nicolas Jarry of Chile on day one of the 2022 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)

Tennis Majors

August 31, 2022

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.

Fired up at Grandstand!@MattBerrettini is into Round 3! pic.twitter.com/aSuzSKRxxh
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2022

“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).