World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini tussle in Wednesday's all-Italian second-round match at Wimbledon.
The sport's leading player overcame a mid-match wobble in his first-round tussle to overcome Yannick Hanfmann in four sets, while the 2021 runner-up also needed as many to see off Marton Fucsovics.
Match preview
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If Sinner is to claim a second Slam of 2024 at Wimbledon, the top seed must play at a higher level than he managed in Monday's 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over his German opponent.
The 22-year-old claimed the first two sets but found himself down a double-break in the third after an uncharacteristic loss of focus that ultimately saw Hanfmann win the third set.
The Italian found his range again in the fourth, securing the all-important break in the fourth game, and it stayed that way for the top seed, who faced no other break point after the third-set dip.
Nevertheless, Sinner will know he has to raise his level in the pick of the second-round matches at the Championships.
The world No. 1 came into Wimbledon on the back of success in Halle, and he hopes to take the best parts of that first title victory on grass and avoid his first-round mistakes on serve in an undoubted banana skin against his countryman.
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Indeed, Berrettini ought to pose problems for the most consistent player on the ATP Tour in 2024, keen to show his best level on a surface where he typically thrives.
The Italian returned to the Championships with a 7-6(3), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Fucsovics, hoping for a deep run this year after a fourth-round exit in 2023.
The 28-year-old is a former world No. 6, whose ascent peaked at the start of 2022 but injuries and illness have prevented him from competing at the very top of men's tennis.
Berrettini missed this year's Australian Open and French Open, but he returns to Wimbledon keen to show the same qualities displayed in that outstanding run to the 2021 final, ultimately falling to Novak Djokovic in four sets.
While that was three years ago, a player with four tour-level tournament victories on grass and a recent final in Stuttgart in preparation for his return to the Championships cannot be discounted.
Tournament so far
Jannik Sinner:
First round: vs. Yannick Hanfmann 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3
Matteo Berrettini:
First round: vs. Marton Fucsovics 7-6[3] 6-2 3-6 6-1
Head To Head
National Bank Open (2023) - Round of 32: Sinner 6-4 6-3
Wednesday's meeting at Wimbledon will be the pair's first on grass, but they faced off in the Masters 1000 event in Canada last August, with Sinner claiming a straight-set 6-4, 6-3 success.
No player has outdone the world No. 1's results in 2024, with 38 of 41 matches this season en route to four Tour title successes.
Berrettini may not have as many titles this year, but the 28-year-old ended a two-year drought to win the 250 event in Morocco in April, albeit on clay.
However, anyone who has won 50% of his eight ATP tournaments on grass should be taken seriously.
We say: Sinner to win in four sets
Berrettini undoubtedly packs a punch on grass, underscored by the former No. 6 winning that many titles on the surface. However, Sinner's year-long consistency and ability to swiftly recover from setbacks should see the top seed claim a victory in this all-Italian clash.
The world No. 1 has made the semi-finals of every tournament he has played in 2024, and an early elimination here is unlikely.
Berrettini's grass-court expertise means he should take a set off the world's finest player — some observers may even stick out their necks for a five-setter if the older player finds his range — but this one should be over in four.
Germany
Switzerland
Hungary
Scotland
