Berrettini extends winning streak, reaches Kitzbuhel SFs

Matteo Berrettini extended his winning streak to eight matches after defeating American wild card Nicolas Moreno De Alboran 7-6(5), 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Generali Open in Kitzbuhel Thursday.

The Italian fired seven aces, dropped just five points on his first serve and saved all three break points according to Infosys ATP Stats. He also improved to 9-0 in tie-breaks during the past two weeks.

The former World No. 6 was outside the Top 150 in the PIF ATP Rankings in March but returned to the Top 50 after winning his ninth title last week in Gstaad. He is chasing his third clay-court crown of the year (also Marrakech).

“Really happy with the performance, I’ve never played against him so I didn’t really know what to expect,” Berrettini said of his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting against the World No. 143. “It was a really high level of tennis and I think he was playing and serving really well, hitting the forehand really well, so I had to dig deep with my energy and my level.

“I couldn’t break him in the first set, I had some chances but he played well and in the tie-break this time I was down so I was like ‘Now I’m going to lose this one’. But I fought hard and I’m really happy because I think the level in the second set was better than the first.”

The 28-year-old, who is now 13-1 on clay this season, will chase his 20th match win of the year Friday when he faces German Yannick Hanfmann, who defeated Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild 7-6(2), 6-4.

Hugo Gaston saved two match points as he won the last four points of a dramatic final-set tie-break against top seed Sebastien Baez. The Frenchman saved 12 of 16 break points during the three hour, eight minute match, eventually winning 7-5, 5-7, 7-6(6) to set a meeting with another Argentine, Facundo Diaz Acosta.

Diaz Acosta, the World No. 77, beat fourth seed Pedro Martinez 6-7(2) 6-3, 6-4 in a three hour, 32 minute marathon in which he saved seven of eight break points.