Tennis news - Matteo Berrettini overpowers Felix Auger-Aliassime to lift Stuttgart title
ByReuters
Updated 16/06/2019 at 17:48 GMT
Italian Matteo Berrettini claimed his first grasscourt title with a 6-4 7-6(11) victory over Canadian teenager Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Stuttgart Open final on Sunday.
Mercedes Cup 2019: Matteo Berrettini vince il torneo ATP 250 di Stoccarda battendo Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-6
Image credit: Getty Images
World No. 30 Berrettini saved five points in the marathon second set tie-break and held on to win it 13-11 for his third ATP crown in last 11 months.
Berrettini, who defeated home favourite Jan-Lennard Struff in the semi-final, grabbed an early break point in the opening set, as the 18-year-old erred by pushing a backhand approach shot into the net.
Auger-Aliassime, who is youngest player in the world's top 100, was unable to take advantage of one of his five chances in the tie-break, with Berrettini serving well under pressure before taking control of points on his forehand.
Berrettini won all 50 of his service games over the week, claiming more than 89% of his first-serve points in his five matches and becoming the first Italian male grasscourt titlist since Andreas Seppi in Eastbourne in 2011.
The 23-year-old had never tasted victory on grass before, with both his previous wins coming on clay courts in Gstaad and Budapest.
Stuttgart marks Auger-Aliassime's third defeat in as many finals this year after losing out in Rio de Janeiro and Lyon.
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