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DPA
London
Italy’s Matteo Berrettini bid farewell to the ATP Finals with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 victory over Austria’s Dominic Thiem on Thursday at London’s O2 Arena.
Thiem is already through to the semi-finals after his successive wins over Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who play for their place in the final four later Thursday.
Thiem’s match with Djokovic lasted almost three hours and he said he was feeling tired while also wanting to conserve energy for Saturday’s semis.
“I’m already through. So all the attention, the adrenaline is set down a little bit,” the 26-year-old Thiem said.
“I was still trying to win that match 100 per cent, but also, in the same time, I knew in my head that I have to take care for Saturday, because obviously it’s the way more important match there.
“(It) wouldn’t be that smart if I would have another three hour match today.”
Berrettini could not progress from the Bjorn Borg group after two straight losses.
The 23-year-old started the year ranked as low as 54th in the world but a late run of success saw him qualify for his debut at the season-ending event as the lowest eighth seed.
“For sure being here wasn’t a goal at the beginning of the year,” said Berrettini.
“Also before US Open (where he made the semi-finals for the first time), you know, I didn’t expect that. I wasn’t thinking about that.
“I knew that I was playing good in springtime, you know, like on clay season. It’s just crazy that it happened. I’m happy.”
He failed to serve out the first set against Thiem at 5-4 after earning his first break of the tournament, but Thiem made five errors in the tie-break before Berrettini secured the lead with an ace.
“I was able to stay mentally focused even when I lost my serve, and I played a great tie-break,” Berrettini added.
In the second set, Berrettini blasted down a forceful backhand to open up a break point at 3-2, and the Italian moved two games clear of Thiem with a crushing cross-court forehand.
Serving for the match at 5-3, Berrettini completed his maiden Finals triumph with a delicate drop shot at the net in 76 minutes.
Djokovic and Federer will now go head-to-head for a place in Saturday’s semi-finals. The two grand slam giants have not faced each other since Djokovic claimed his fifth Wimbledon title in July’s epic final that lasted four hours and 57 minutes and Djokovic won 13-12 in a fifth-set tiebreak.
Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas has qualified from the opposite Andre Agassi group with a second player to be decided Friday.
London
Italy’s Matteo Berrettini bid farewell to the ATP Finals with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 victory over Austria’s Dominic Thiem on Thursday at London’s O2 Arena.
Thiem is already through to the semi-finals after his successive wins over Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who play for their place in the final four later Thursday.
Thiem’s match with Djokovic lasted almost three hours and he said he was feeling tired while also wanting to conserve energy for Saturday’s semis.
“I’m already through. So all the attention, the adrenaline is set down a little bit,” the 26-year-old Thiem said.
“I was still trying to win that match 100 per cent, but also, in the same time, I knew in my head that I have to take care for Saturday, because obviously it’s the way more important match there.
“(It) wouldn’t be that smart if I would have another three hour match today.”
Berrettini could not progress from the Bjorn Borg group after two straight losses.
The 23-year-old started the year ranked as low as 54th in the world but a late run of success saw him qualify for his debut at the season-ending event as the lowest eighth seed.
“For sure being here wasn’t a goal at the beginning of the year,” said Berrettini.
“Also before US Open (where he made the semi-finals for the first time), you know, I didn’t expect that. I wasn’t thinking about that.
“I knew that I was playing good in springtime, you know, like on clay season. It’s just crazy that it happened. I’m happy.”
He failed to serve out the first set against Thiem at 5-4 after earning his first break of the tournament, but Thiem made five errors in the tie-break before Berrettini secured the lead with an ace.
“I was able to stay mentally focused even when I lost my serve, and I played a great tie-break,” Berrettini added.
In the second set, Berrettini blasted down a forceful backhand to open up a break point at 3-2, and the Italian moved two games clear of Thiem with a crushing cross-court forehand.
Serving for the match at 5-3, Berrettini completed his maiden Finals triumph with a delicate drop shot at the net in 76 minutes.
Djokovic and Federer will now go head-to-head for a place in Saturday’s semi-finals. The two grand slam giants have not faced each other since Djokovic claimed his fifth Wimbledon title in July’s epic final that lasted four hours and 57 minutes and Djokovic won 13-12 in a fifth-set tiebreak.
Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas has qualified from the opposite Andre Agassi group with a second player to be decided Friday.
