But the Spaniard drew on the same determination that has characterised Nadal’s remarkable career, breaking back with a beautiful scooping backhand later in the set that drew an error. An unfortunate double fault from Alcaraz off the tape and a stunning Berrettini backhand helped the Italian seal the second set tiebreak.
At 4-4 in the third Alcaraz pumped his fist to gee up the supportive crowd after a ripper forehand winner against the Berrettini serve. Two unforced errors by the Italian gave the youngster more than enough break points to seal the deal and take it to a fourth.
As the afternoon shadow crept across centre court, another two unforced errors and a rare double fault by Berrettini – then an incredible return by Alcaraz – allowed the Spaniard to break the Italian’s big serve for the second time in the fourth set and set up a decider that began just shy of the three-hour mark.
“When I started the fifth set I started just to think about fighting every point,” Berrettini later said.
Carlos Alcaraz.Credit:Getty Images
It was early in the fifth that Berrettini appeared to roll his ankle and hit the court in a nasty tumble. There were gasps from the crowd and Alcaraz immediately crossed the net to check on his opponent’s welfare.
The Italian called the physio but after a brief time out returned to the court with only a faint limp, which he overcame during a tough but ultimately successful service game. He put real pressure on the Alcaraz serve the very next game, who pulled off a big hold to get to 2-2.
The youngster was always willing to take risks, including a deft drop shot while serving at 3-4, 0-15 in the fifth that just crept over the net.
A few games later, another drop shot off the Spaniard’s racquet was answered by Berrettini, only for Alcaraz to produce a perfectly placed lob that the Italian chased down and returned with his own. Alcaraz missed the smash and handed Berrettini match point.
He saved that one courtesy of an unforced error from his opponent, then won two more points on the trot to take it to the super tiebreak. That’s where the older player’s experience aided him; keeping cool, returning strongly and finding the lines when it counted most.
‘He’s unbelievable’: Berrettini survives epic against teen sensation
Source: Philippines Alive
