Berrettini stages successful comeback

The tournament’s number 2, Matteo Berrettini, celebrated a three-set victory after undergoing hand surgery in the spring. Rain then cut the day at the Weissenhof short.

Against qualifier Radu Albot (MDA), Berrettini got off to a great start, never showing the rust after having to pause for months because of an injury. The Italian quickly wrapped up the first set with two breaks, before momentum changed in the second set. Berrettini, also brand ambassador of the tournament’s new title sponsor BOSS, was able to turn the tide again, finally emerging as 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 winner. “I knew beforehand that it was going to be tough. It was my first match back on the tour and especially on grass it’s always complicated. One break is often enough to send a match into a completely different direction. In the end I won and that’s the most important thing.”

The next opponent will either be fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego or German Jan-Lennard Struff. The match between the two had to be suspended due to rain with Sonego leading 7-6 (2), 3-4. It will be finished on Thursday. Berrettini offered no preferences as to who should emerge victorious from that match: “It will be tough either way. I’ve long been friends with Lorenzo, we grew up together.”

In a French duel, Benjamin Bonzi stayed victorious 7-6 (2), 6-2 against Arthur Rinderknech. The match between Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) and Lorenzo Musetti (ITA), which had been postponed from Tuesday because of rain, was finished with Basilashvili advancing to the next round 7-5, 6-3.