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Another tournament, another early setback for Alexander Zverev! World no. 2 faced Matteo Berrettini in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters. The Italian ousted the top seed 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in two hours and 28 minutes for his first top-2 triumph!
Thus, Alexander lost his chances to move in front of Jannik Sinner and become the 30th world no. 1 in ATP history. Hehas losttoo many matches after the Australian Open,missing an incredible opportunity to take the ATP throne.
Zverev made a reliable start and grabbed a double break in the opener. Berrettini served well in the second set and clinched it with a single break. The German erased a 5-3 deficit in the decider before the Italian sealed the deal with a late break.
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Matteo claimed two points more than Alexander. They both scored three breaks, and the lower-ranked player made a difference with that final one. Berrettini embraced a 25-39 ratio and left his opponent on 21 winners and 35 unforced errors.
The Italian collected six points more in service winners and at the net. The German responded with a fine performance at the net, giving everything despite a bad day at the office but ending on the losing side.
World no. 2 painted a backhand down the line winner in the first game of the match for an early break. World no. 2 cemented the lead with a fine attack in the second game and closed the fourth after a deuce for 3-1. Alexander made another push on the return in game five.
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Matteo sprayed a forehand error, losing serve for the second time and falling 4-1 behind. Zverev served for the opener at 5-2 and landed a service winner, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 39 minutes. Berrettini raised his level in the second set.
The Italian barely dropped a couple of points in five service games and kept the pressure on the other side. Matteo drew the rival's mistake in the fifth game for 3-2 and made a push on the return in the next one. Zverev sprayed a forehand error and faced a break point.
He missed a backhand and sent his rival 4-2 in front. Berrettini held at love in the seventh game and served for the set at 5-3. The Italian fired a forehand winner on a set point, wrapping up the second part of the match 6-3 and introducing a decider after an hour and 20 minutes.
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They served well in the first six games of the final set, with Matteo landing a forehand winner in game six for 3-3. He made a push on the return in the next one and generated three break points. The lower-ranked player passed his rival at the net on the third, clinching a break and moving 4-3 in front.
Zverev wasted a break chance in game eight and fell 5-3 behind. Berrettini served for the win at 5-4 and played a loose game. He netted a forehand to drop serve and bring world no. 2 back to 5-5. Instead of building on that, Alexander faced more issues in game 11.
Matteo created three break points and converted the last with a slice attack, drawing the rival's mistake and moving 6-5 in front. Berrettini served for the win in game 12 and earned a match point after Zverev's wayward forehand.
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Matteo seized it after Alexander's loose backhand, sealing the deal and celebrating his first top-2 victory.
