ATP Finals: Alexander Zverev wins, as Matteo Berrettini retires

• Tennis News
• On the ATP results with

Competing at the ATP Finals for the second time, Matteo Berrettini could not complete his opening round-robin match in front of the home fans in Turin. The Italian retired against a former champion Alexander Zverev while trailing 7-6, 1-0, feeling pain in his abdomen in the second set's second game and becoming the first player who retired at this event since 1998!

Alexander earned his ninth ATP Finals victory and the most undesired one in terms of the outcome, as he praised the Italian and hoped to see Matteo on the court in the upcoming matches. The encounter lasted for an hour and 41 minutes, and it was a high-quality battle, with Alexander and Matteo repelling all seven break chances to stay neck and neck before the home player felt the pain on his left side.

Matteo Berrettini withdrew against Alexander Zveren in Turin.

Berrettini fended off two break points in the encounter's opening game to avoid an early setback before Zverev grabbed the second game with a service winner to get his name on the scoreboard.

Matteo saved another break point in the third game and brought it home with a service winner for another boost of confidence. The Italian clinched the fifth game with a volley winner at the net, and the German landed an ace down the T line in the next one for 3-3.

Berrettini repelled a break chance in the seventh game with an unreturned serve before Zverev fired an ace a few minutes later for a hold at love and 4-4. Alexander closed the tenth game with a volley winner at the net and erased two set points in the 12th game to introduce a tie break.

Matteo opened a 5-3 advantage before spraying a forehand mistake in the next point that would cost him dearly. After a lot of drama, Alexander grabbed the breaker 9-7 after almost 80 minutes for a massive boost. Berrettini started to struggle with an injury in the second set's second game, and he had to retire to avoid more troubles and get himself a chance to play the remaining two encounters against Daniil Medvedev and Hubert Hurkacz. If Matteo withdraws, his young compatriot Jannik Sinner will step in and play instead of him.