Italy’s Matteo Berrettini upset no.
It was the biggest win in his career when it comes to victory over a ranked opponent. Zverev, Germany, is ranked as No. 2 in the world.
The win was Berrettini’s 17th in the last 18 matches at Clay Courts. He won three tournaments on clay last season after being plagued by injuries the year before.
“I grew up on clay and played on it to 19,” Berrettini said. “On the tour we don’t play as much but at the same time I have missed the biggest tournament at Clay for the past three years and it was tough and now I want to enjoy it. I feel really comfortable at clay.”
Berrettini said he knew he needed his game to defeat Zverev.
“The playing field was the same, but I changed my attitude and how I believed in my kinds,” Berrettini said. “I did not beat my forehand and served as I had in previous days and I had to adapt and adapt to the conditions and (Zverev) played incredibly, so it was not easy. Then I told myself to be more aggressive and if I will lose this match I will do the right things and happily it worked.”
Tied in five matches and at 40/40 in the third set Berrettini won a 48-shot rally and then broke Zverev’s serve at the next point.
Up 6-5 and served for the match, Berrettini closed the set at its first match point after two hours, 27 minutes.
The match continued the disappointment at Clay for Zverev, who made quarter -final outputs in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro earlier this year.
Also forward to the third round was No. 5 Frö Jack Draper from the UK, a 6-1, 6-1 winner over Marcos Giron, and No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece, who eliminated Australia Jordan Thompson 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Several matches in the first round also took place Tuesday.
Nuno Borges of Portugal advanced when No. 10 Frö Holger Rune retired in the second set due to illness, and No. 12 Frö Arthur Fils in France came from behind to knock out Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2.
Frances Tiefoe, No. 14 seed, defeated Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 (5) and the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, No. 15, Removed Nicolas Jarry from Chile 6-3, 6-4 to move to the second round.
Second winners in the first round were Tomas Martin Etcheverry from Argentina, Pedro Martinez and Roberto Bautista Agut in Spain, Alexei Popyrin in Australia, Czech Tomas Machac and Italian Flavio Cobolli, who won last week in Bucharest.
-Field level media
