Google News Matteo Berrettini reacts to surviving tight Ilya Ivashka challenge at US Open
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 5530
World No. 8 Matteo Berrettini insisted he expected a tough clash against 53rd-ranked Ilya Ivashka. Berrettini, seeded at No. 6, edged out recent Winston-Salem Open champion Ivashka 6-7 (5) 6-2 6-4 2-6 6-3 to progress into the US round-of-16.
Berrettini has remained perfect against Ivashka as he now has three wins and zero losses against the world No. 53. Berrettini beat Ivashka at the Portoroz Challenger in 2017, before beating him at this year's Wimbledon and US Open.
"I'm really happy for today's win. I think it was really tough match, tough opponent," Berrettini said, per the ATP website. "He's feeling obviously really well. He won in Winston-Salem. He was playing also before the American swing really well.
I knew it would be really tough."
Berrettini didn't allow Ivashka to claim a shock win
As not a single break was seen in the first set -- the set went into a tie-break -- in which Ivashka realized his third set point to win a tight opener.
Berrettini saved two break points in the opening game of the second set, before earning the first break of the match in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Berrettini earned the second break of the match in the eighth game to level the match at one set apiece.
Berrettini then saved two break points in the fifth game of the third set, before breaking Ivashka in the 10th game to go up by two sets to one. After losing the second and third set, Ivashka responded well as he broke Berrettini twice in the fourth set to force a decider.
After easily losing the fourth set, Berrettini regrouped at the start of the fifth set as he won the opening three games to take an early 3-0 lead. Berrettini then held on to his serve the rest of the match to earn a five-set win. Berrettini will be fighting against Oscar Otte for a place in the US Open quarterfinal.