Matteo Berrettini admitted he wasn’t aggressive enough in the third set versus Andy Murray but was happy with how he responded in the fourth set when it seemed that all the moment was on the Briton’s side.
On Friday, Berrettini defeated Murray 6-4 6-4 6-7 (1) 6-3 to progress into the US Open round-of-16.
In the third set, Berrettini had break points in four games.
But Berrettini didn’t realize any of his eight break points as Murray cruised past the tie-break to send the match into a fourth set.
After stealing the third set from Berrettini, Murray broke the Italian in the opening game of the fourth set.
Berrettini responded by breaking Murray in the second and eighth games to close out the match in four sets.
“You learn from the past and learn from mistakes,” Berrettini said after the match, per the ATP website. “I wasn’t aggressive enough with the break points [in the third set] but that is tennis. I think Andy played a really good set in order to not get broken, but I was feeling better. I had more chances and I thought the same thing in the fourth set. I had my chance and I took it.”
Berrettini: It’s normal to get tight
Berrettini created far more opportunities in the third set, but just couldn’t realize his chances and he paid the price by losing the set.
After Murray stole the third set from him, Berrettini told himself he would be more courageous and go more for his shots.
“It is normal to get tight. That is what I told myself when I played here against Gael [Monfils], I double faulted on match point. It is normal. We care about this,” Berrettini said. “I told myself next time was going to be more brave in a way and that is what I tried to do in the fourth.”
Berrettini plays Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the US Open round-of-16.
Berrettini and Davidovich Fokina will be going head-to-head for the second time when they meet at Flushing Meadows.
Last year, Davidovich Fokina upset Berrettini at the Monte Carlo Masters.