Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek tennis sensation, once again demonstrated his formidable form, this time at the ATP Indian Wells, leaving his opponent, Matteo Berrettini, trailing in his wake. Competing in the third round, Tsitsipas delighted his fans with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 triumph, achieved in a brief 68-minute match duration.
The 8th seed put on a power-packed performance, outstripping Berrettini by a whopping 20 points. His strategic serve and return game were instrumental in his victory, which was marked by a steady pressure he maintained throughout the match.
Tsitsipas’s service game was nearly flawless. He gave away just eight points in the nine service games he played. Not once did he face a break point, thereby keeping Berrettini on his toes. The Italian contender, unfortunately, couldn’t keep up with Tsitsipas’s relentless pace. His second serve was particularly weak, and he lost 42% of the points in his games.
Berrettini, who entered the tournament as the 28th seed, found himself battling six break points. He relinquished his serve thrice, leading to an early exit in the third round.
Tsitsipas’s performance was a blend of precision and power. He fired off 12 winners and made only 11 unforced errors. In contrast, Berrettini made 24 errors, seriously undermining his own chances. Despite leading 20-13 in service winners, Berrettini lagged behind 11-2 at the net and 33-13 from the baseline, thus losing the crucial mid-range exchanges.
Tsitsipas’s mastery was evident right from the first set. He held serve comfortably five times, heaping pressure on Berrettini. An early break in the second game, courtesy of a rival’s error, saw Tsitsipas surge ahead 2-0. A love game closed with a forehand winner, affirming his rhythm and dominance.
Berrettini did manage to regain some ground, serving well towards the end of the first set. A service winner in the eighth game kept him in the game a little longer. However, another error in the ninth game handed Tsitsipas the first set at 6-3, accomplished in just 30 minutes.
Tsitsipas continued his winning streak in the second set, sailing through his service games. Despite squandering two break points in the third game, he remained unruffled. A net cord winner in the seventh game presented another break point opportunity.
Closing in on victory, Tsitsipas landed a running forehand crosscourt winner at the net, thereby securing a break and edging closer to the finish line. The 8th seed consolidated his lead with a service winner in the eighth game and applied more pressure on the return in the following one.
A routine backhand into the net by Berrettini handed Tsitsipas three match points. Tsitsipas seized the first opportunity, landing a volley winner, and with it, he sealed the match in style, advancing into the last 16. This performance reaffirms Tsitsipas’s top form, and his fans will be eagerly awaiting his next encounter.