Sinner finds way past Berrettini, reaches third round at Wimbledon

Italian Jannik Sinner earned a statement win at Wimbledon on Wednesday when he defeated countryman and former finalist Matteo Berrettini 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 2-6, 7-6(4) in an absorbing second-round clash.

Meeting for just the second time, both players ripped the ball from the baseline and looked to gain the first strike in the exchanges. There was little to separate the pair but Sinner drew backhand errors from Berrettini at key times, while he rallied from a break down in the second and fourth sets to reach the third round at Wimbledon after three hours and 45 minutes.

With his victory that came just 27 minutes before the 11 p.m. curfew, the top seed improved his perfect tour-level record against Italians to 14-0.

"First of all we are very good friends," Sinner said. "We played Davis Cup together and we practise together, so it is very very tough we had to face in the second round in such an important tournament. Today was a very high-level match. In three tie-breaks I got a little bit lucky and I take it for today."

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Berrettini spent the majority of time from 2019-2022 as the Italian No. 1, reaching the Wimbledon final in 2021. In June 2022, the eight-time tour-level titlist dropped out of the Top 10, with Sinner passing his countryman in the opposite direction two weeks later.

Since then, World No. 1 Sinner defeated Berrettini en route to winning his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto and then clinched his first major crown at the Australian Open in January. In contrast, World No. 59 Berrettini has missed large periods through injury, with his best result a title run in Marrakech in April.

In a tight clash between two of Italy’s best-ever players, Sinner struck 32 winners and committed 25 unforced errors to earn his 40th tour-level win of the season. He withstood 28 aces and won 82 per cent of his first-serve points.

"We have spoken with the team a lot and I knew I had to raise my level," Sinner said. "He played the final here and is a grass-court specialist. I was looking forward to it and it was a challenge to come on court and I am very happy with how I handled the situation. There were some ups and downs, which is normal in a five-set [match], but I am happy."

Sinner, who reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon last season, is chasing his second major title and Tour-leading fifth crown of the year. The former Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion will next play Miomir Kecmanovic after the Serbian beat 27th seed Tallon Griekspoor 4-6, 7-6(7), 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Sinner arrived in west London off the back of winning the title at the ATP 500 grass-court event in Halle. The 22-year-old has battled hard in his opening two matches at SW19, where he also eliminated Yannick Hanfmann in four sets.