World No. 50 Matteo Berrettini, on a 9-match winning streak, reached back-to-back finals without dropping a set all week on Austrian soil by edging unseeded Yannick Hanfmann 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 30 minutes on Friday at the Generali Open Kitzbuhel.
Courtside, the Roman-born said: “I feel really good. Obviously, I feel tired in the way I have had a lot of matches on my shoulders, but it’s a good feeling.”
“It’s not tired that I cannot play anymore. I am pushing myself, and this is what I was looking to before the tournament, hoping to have as many matches as possible.”
Adding: “It’s been a great two weeks, and hopefully, tomorrow is going to be another title. That is what I’m going to try to do.”
On Saturday, the Italian player will battle against Frenchman Hugo Gaston, who received a walkover from Argentine Facundo Diaz Acosta in their semifinal contest due to a right knee injury when the former led 6-1, 2-0 after 35 minutes.
Gaston, a former Gstaad runner-up, commented: “I feel pretty good on the court physically, mentally, my game and my shots and everything is feeling really good and strong, I got confidence. But you have to win every point, and you have to win the last one if you want to drink the champagne.”
“I try to leave my best on the court, and for the moment this week, it’s not bad.”
En route to the final, the 23-year-old, yet to lift a trophy on tour, delivered some of his best tennis to upset top seed Sebastian Baez, saving two match points in a three-hour, 8-minute marathon encounter held on Thursday.
Back into the Top 50
During the last couple of years, Berrettini’s career has been disrupted due to several injuries, including abdominal and back issues, ankle and foot, becoming the most recent concerns, particularly since the 2023 US Open, the last tournament he played that season.
But the 28-year-old seems to have found his way back to winning ways on the red clay.
Last Sunday, he completed an impressive campaign in Gstaad by capturing his second title at the Swiss Open, the ninth of his career, his fifth on the clay surface, cruising past Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-3, 6-1 in one hour, breaking back into the Top 50 in the Rankings.
In his on-court interview, he outlined: “It feels unbelievable like it was yesterday that I won my first title here six years ago, but a lot of matches and things happened. I’m just so glad that I can keep playing and enjoying.”
On Thursday in Austria, he notched his spot in the semifinals by beating American wild card Nicolas Moreno De Alboran 7-6(5), 6-3, saving all three break points he faced through the matchup.
Building Form
In April, he claimed his first crown of the season in Marrakech, but after an early exit at the Monte-Carlo Masters and being forced to withdraw from his home Masters 1000, he decided to skip Roland-Garros, focussing on the grass swing.
By June, he was back playing in Stuttgart, going the distance to progress into the championship match for the third time at the tournament.
However, he could not hold off home favorite Jack Draper, who edged the former world No.6 in the final to lift his maiden trophy on tour.
A former finalist at Wimbledon, he was halted by compatriot and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who rallied across three hours and 42 minutes to beat Berrettini’s powerful forehand and booming serve, 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 2-6, 7-6(4) to move into the third round at the major.
The level and fitness were there, so once on Swiss soil, he built upon the momentum, and the switch of surfaces did no damage to the resilient Italian, who on Saturday will look to emerge victorious, playing his fourth final of the season in eight venues.