Imperial, Matteo Berrettini easily beat Botic van de Zandschulp in the first match of the Davis Cup final (6-4, 6-2). Jannik Sinner did not give up either against Tallon Griekspoor (7-6 (2), 6-2) to validate the back-to-back of Italy which, in addition, made the double after the team's victory women in BJK Cup.
Jannik Sinner bat Tallon Greek Spoor (7-6 (2), 6-2)
After the clear and flawless victory of Matteo Berrettini, Jannik Sinner had to finish the job for the Azzurri. Tallon Greek track had little to lose against the world number 1. And as against Carlos Alcaraz in the 1/4 final, the Dutchman held out against the favorite, pushing him to the tie-break. Against Spain, he sank 7-0. This time, he barely held on (7-2).
The second set looked like a formality for Sinner, sovereign in service since the start of the match. Moreover, the Upper Tyrolean broke quickly to lead 2-1. Except that Griekspoor immediately returned the favor.
Return of a showdown? Rather a last stand for Griekspoor, outclassed by an obviously superior Sinner who won the last 4 games of the match, after having delayed the second consecutive coronation to 5-2 due to the loss of a few points (7-6 ( 2). 6-2 in 1h35). Without consequence. Without superfluous effusion, Sinner raised his arms before being embraced by his captain and his teammates.
Italy achieves back-to-back in the Davis Cup. Better still, she won the BJK Cup for girls and the Davis Cup for boys this year. Transalpine tennis is truly experiencing its golden age.
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Matteo Berrettini (ITA) bats Botic van de Zandschulp (6-4, 6-2)
Who's the killer of the ultimate killer of Rafael Nadal or Mr. 100% victories in the Davis Cup this year would award the first point in this final?
Despite the many that punctuated his last seasons, the Italian was the favorite, on the strength of his 4 successes in as many duels contested against the Dutchman, including one in the group stage last September. However, it's good Matteo Berrettini who seemed the most tense at the start of the match, forcing the shift on the forehand in his return games while he had pushed Botic from the Zandschulp to the advantages during the opening throw-in.
The Roman's service games were of the expeditious type, with a quantity of aces (16 in total) and winning serves which limited the possibilities for van de Zandschulp. Up 4-4, Berretini was on alternating current, able to slam a winner before sending a forehand into the tarpaulins on the next point. And then the Wimbledon 2021 finalist hit a winning forehand then a counter-drop out of reach, before an excellent return and a backhand chip unsettled BVDZ, forced to release his white serve, at the worst moment of the set.
Trailing 0-15 after a direct error then 15-30 after the net played a bad trick on him, Berrettini tightened the game, with a shift of perfect depth and two services impossible to return for van de Zandschulp (6- 4 in 41 minutes).
Not really in his match, the Dutchman definitely lost the lead at 1-1. While he was leading 40-0, he saw Berrettini get back to 40-A after a cross pass which pierced him after a wooden return. If he dismissed a first break point on an ace, BVDZ was struck down by a long-line forehand winner from the Italian and committed the double fault that should not have been committed at that precise moment.
From then on, the Dutchman was in an almost insoluble situation since he had never had a break point to negotiate. Berrettini continued to serve the steel, even hitting 3 aces in 4 points to lead 4-2. With full confidence, he overtook BVDZ. Winning long backhand, forehand at the end of the stroke after a return made in a half turn, forehand attack and conclusion on the fly, deep return and passing at the feet: the entire repertoire is there to validate a double break final. Serene even at 0-30 then at 40-A, Berrettini continued to rely on his first service ball to validate his victory and offer the first point, not to say the title, to the Azzurri (6-4, 6 -2 in 1h18)
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