Fucsovics fought well, but was eliminated by the 2021 finalist

Wimbledon, men, 1st round (for last 64):
Matthew Berrettini (Italian)-Márton Fucsovics 7:6 (7-3), 6:2, 3:6, 6:1

The 70th Hungarian in the world ranking clashed with Matteo Berrettini, a finalist in 2021. In principle, Fucsovics, a quarterfinalist in 2021, did not do badly in the draw with the Italian excellence, but at the same time, the 28-year-old rival – who missed a lot due to injury – was previously sixth in the ATP rankings, won eight ATP matches and is clearly the strongest cover on grass.

Both won one clay tournament this year: Fucsovics celebrated in Bucharest, while Berrettini celebrated in Marrakesh. As for the head-to-head results, in 2018 Berrettini was better at the challenger held in Irving, USA, and in Sofia in 2019, the tennis player from Nyíregyháza proved to be better.

In the third game, Fucsovics had to save four break points at 0:1, but from then on both served steadily. As usual on grass, the ball runs rarely lasted more than 3-4 strokes, the Hungarian’s first break point was saved by the 196-centimeter Berrettini with a 220 km/h serve, and the second with a precise forehand at 5:5. In the shortened game, the 32-year-old Hungarian’s two botched shots decided, after 55 minutes, the player from Rome took a set advantage.

In the continuation, the first break of the match came at 1:1, the Italian took the serve of Fucsovics with a great break, who during the entire game brought only one point as host. Berrettini, still firmly in control, broke even at 4:2 and was soon only one set away from advancing. In the third set, the Italian finally faltered, and Fucsovics – after 1 hour and 50 minutes – was able to take his previously untouchable serve for the first time. The advantage was carried through, and partly thanks to four aces, the beautification came together.

During the break before the fourth set, the Italian asked for care for his back. After that, his formidable serves slowed down a bit, but he brought his serves and even twice took the increasingly disintegrating Fucsovics. The Hungarian could not get back from here and after 2 hours and 54 minutes he was able to go to the net to congratulate himself. “If I were to say that I gave myself a zero percent chance beforehand, I would be very rude to myself,” he began his statement on the association’s social media page. “I wanted to win, but the reality showed that I wasn’t the best.”

Fucsovics explained that, before the fourth set, Berrettini probably didn’t have anything wrong, he just wanted to break his rhythm with grooming. However, he still believed in success, aiming for the fifth set, but then the Italian served well again. “I missed my good serves, my forehand winners, I suffered on the court. To beat players of this level, you need several weeks of training and lead-up tournaments, because of my hand injury, I hardly held a racket since Roland Garros. Now I have slag due to the Olympics, which is not the best for my wrists, but I want to be there in Paris, and before that the tournament in Kitzbühel he added.