Alexander Zverev returned to the ATP Finals which he won in 2018 with the first match of the group stage in Turin against the host, Matteo Berrettini.
Returning to the 2021 Wimbledon runners-up, Berrettini was interrupted in the first match of the ATP Finals group stage when he was forced to withdraw from the second set against the German due to injury.
The Tokyo Olympic champions won a fierce first set 7-6 in 79 minutes and took a 1-0 lead in the second when the hosts were unable to continue.
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After asking for a pause on medical grounds, sixth seed Berrettini tried to resume the match. But after taking another point, he walked over to the net to shake hands with the third seed who jumped over the net to hug and comfort him.
“I don’t really know what to say, because it’s the worst feeling a tennis player can feel,” Zverev said.
“You played all season to qualify for this amazing tournament. For Matteo playing in his own home, it’s the worst feeling I think he will have in his career.”
Berrettini walked into the main square at the Pala Alpitour, Turin with thunderous applause accompanied by the song Man On A Mission from Oh The Larceny that filled the stadium. But an injury made him stop in the middle of the road.
“I think the first set was a very high level set. It’s not important,” Alexander Zverev added.
“The most important thing is when the two players at the end of the match can shake hands and be healthy. This time, that’s not what happened. I think a lot of fans, everyone here in Italy are looking forward to seeing Matteo in all three games, maybe a semi-final, maybe a final.”
However the end of the match, the German is now 1-0 in the Red Group and will next face the reigning champion, Daniil Medvedev. Now he is 9-7 in the ATP Finals.
Starting the match, both players played fiercely and refused to give up, including when the German secured two set points at 5-6 before successfully forcing the tiebreak.
Zverev struggled to come back from 3/5 in the tiebreak and eventually won the first set by firing a forehand return that landed inches from the line.
