AFTER withdrawing due to an abdominal injury issue mid-match last week in Tokyo, Italian former Top 10 talent Matteo Berrettini got his body back on track by producing a straight sets nail-biting win over Australian Christopher O’Connell in Shanghai. The world number 45 needed two tiebreakers to get it done, but eventually won both 11-9 and 8-6 for the 7-6 7-6 triumph in two hours and 13 minutes.

Berrettini smashed 11 aces among 33 winners in the contest which marked his first ATP Masters 1000 win for 2024, looking far stronger than when under the weather against Frenchman Arthur Fils. Berrettini said he was feeling good.

“I’m happy to be back here and healthy. I’ve never played him so didn’t know what to expect,” Berrettini said.

“Mentally it’s been tough… Too often I have been thinking about how to be healthy and it’s something I’ve grown a bit tired of. I’ve been working hard to be able to think as less as possible about this.

“It was one of the goals of the match. Not to think about my condition, just to enjoy the match, enjoy the atmosphere, which I did.”

The 71st ranked O’Connell did not make life easy for the Italian, but Berrettini’s ability to get himself out of a jam through his serving and power certainly helped. Now 28 years of age, the 10-time ATP Tour title winner has collected three trophies this year and is back at top form when not having injury issues.

Berrettini won 75 and 61 per cent of his first and second serve points off a 63 per cent clip, while breaking twice from five chances. O’Connell broke him the same amount from four opportunities, and while there was nothing between the players for the most part, Berrettini’s experience in big matches came to the fore during both tiebreakers to claim the victory.

The Italian now moves through to the Round of 64 where he will face Danish 12th seed Holger Rune who of course had a first round bye. Berrettini trails the head-to-head 1-2, but at his best will trouble the talented up-and-comer.

Another former Top 10 talent who got the win in round one was Swiss star Stan Wawrinka. The Grand Slam winner fought off big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in two tiebreakers as well to advance through to the Round of 64.

Among the other winners on the day were qualifiers Terence Atmane and Mattia Bellucci, as well as Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, Belgian David Goffin and Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic who all stood tall on day two.