A SEASON-ENDING injury to Italian Matteo Berrettini has soured an otherwise entertaining first round of action at the 2021 ATP Finals in Turin, Italy. The sixth seed went down with an abdominal injury early in the second set against Alexander Zverev. Losing the first set in a tiebreaker 9-7, Berrettini had to stop play and call it quits after clearly looking in distress and falling to the court. It was a shattering end to the Italian’s home ATP Finals before it had even begun.

Red Group

Berrettini had matched it with the big-serving Zverev, withstanding 10 aces and five break points, to serve five of his own aces and create two break point opportunities. Unfortunately for the home nation hero, he was unable to take advantage of them, but still forced his higher ranked opponent into a tiebreaker despite Zverev serving at a higher clip (72 to 68 per cent) and better second serve win rate (67 to 36 per cent). Berrettini had to withdraw from the tournament, allowing compatriot Italian Jannik Sinner to replace him in the draw.

“I don’t really know what to say, because this is the worst feeling a player can have,” Zverev said post-match. “You play all year long to qualify for this beautiful tournament. “For Matteo playing at home, this is the worst feeling I think he will ever have in his career.”

The other Red Group result saw Daniil Medvedev hold off a determined Hubert Hurkacz in a two-hour three-set match, 6-7 6-3 6-4 to get on the board. Both players produced their fair share of aces with the world number two Russian slightly ahead, 15-12. He also won 83 and 63 per cent of his first and second serve points off a 73 per cent clip, compared to Hurkacz’s 79 and 50 off 66 per cent. Critically, Hurkacz only won the first set in a tiebreaker, but two breaks from four opportunities in the last two sets handed Medvedev the match.

“I had zero break points to save, so in a way I was never under pressure,” Medvedev said post-match. “I had only two games on Hubert’s serve where I had break points. Super happy to make this work and [that I] managed to get both breaks.”

Green Group

In the Green Group, world number one Novak Djokovic claimed a straight sets win over eighth seed Casper Ruud. The Serbian won 7-6 6-2, shaking off the ATP Finals debutant after a promising first set tiebreaker went to 7-4. Lasting exactly 90 minutes, Djokovic served one more ace (10-9) but did not serve a double fault as Ruud produced four. The tournament favourite also won an elite 90 per cent of his first serve points compared to the Norwegian’s 63 per cent, and had a 74 per cent clip to-boot. Ruud still managed to break the top seed once, but Djokovic broke his younger opponent three times for the victory.

The other Green Group match only went for an additional minute, with fifth seed Russian Andrey Rublev becoming the first lower-ranked player to upset their opponent. The ATP Finals debutant won 6-4 6-4 in 91 minutes against Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. Much like the other match, there were plenty of aces, with the Greek star producing 12 to nine, but was unable to break though Rublev’s outstanding serve. The Russian won 37 of a possible 41 points (90 per cent efficiency) off his first serve, which came from a 68 per cent clip. He never faced a break point, and instead converted two himself from seven opportunities.

“I think these are the moments that we are practising for, that we are living for: to be here and to enjoy this atmosphere, to play great tennis and for the spectators to enjoy,” Rublev said post-match. “[All] I could do my best today, I did and I’m really happy.”

ATP FINALS ROUND 1 RESULTS:

[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) defeated [8] Casper Ruud (NOR) 7-6 6-2
[2] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) defeated [7] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 6-7 6-3 6-4
[3] Alexander Zverev (GER) defeated [6] Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 7-6 1-0 RET
[5] Andrey Rublev (RUS) defeated [4] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 6-4 6-4

ATP FINALS ROUND 2 SCHEDULE:

[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. [5] Andrey Rublev (RUS)
[4] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. [8] Casper Ruud (NOR)
[2] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs. [3] Alexander Zverev (GER)
[ALT] Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs. [7] Hubert Hurkacz (POL)

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