Rain, a lull, then new bad weather before ending in a clearing. The weather that punctuated the meeting between Matteo Berrettini and Félix Auger-Aliassime, this Monday, in the first round of the ATP 1000 in Cincinnati, looked like the match of the Canadian.
” I am relieved. I lived through difficult weeks, but by dint of determination, I always knew that the victory would come back.
First dominated in the first set because of his irregularity, then dominant in the second, the 23-year-old right-hander tied the game with the Italian at the start of the third round, before flying away to offer himself a real ray of sunshine, a first victory in official competition (4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in 2:24) since May 24 (in Lyon).
“It’s a big win. I am relievedhe breathed after the meeting. I lived through difficult weeks, but by dint of determination, I always knew that the victory would come back. I never doubted myself. »
A lack of confidence visible in the 1st set
Delayed by the rain that fell in Ohio, the start of the match did not bode well for the world No. 14. On his serve, he immediately committed a fault showing a real lack of confidence, confirmed by the double-fault on the serve in stride. But brilliant on certain points, and occasionally on his serve (53% success on the first serve in this set, but 82% of points won on these first balls), Auger-Aliassime initially limited the breakage.
Opposite, Berrettini, with his break lead, showed composure to fend off two break points and win 6-4 in the first set. But the Italian never showed the same confidence afterwards.
From the second round, the 27-year-old world No. 38 seemed much more limited in his movements (he also took a long break in the locker room between the 2nd and 3rd set), while Auger-Aliassime became more and more precise. “I was able to turn my frustration from the first set into something positive”explained the Canadian.
By winning this second set 6-2, the native of Montreal reassured himself before a decisive round that was first tight and then he finally dominated 6-3 after the interruption due to the rain. In this third set, Auger-Aliassime also found a success of 71% on his first serve, and committed only 3 unforced errors (against 9 in the first set).
” I know I can still play great tennis, I proved it today (Monday), he assured. I will try to bring back the energy I had today day by day and see where it takes me. » Next mission: to get rid of the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who took out Richard Gasquet in the first round.
