ATP Tour

Berrettini saves 2 MPs, wins 5-hour thriller: 'I gave everything I had'

Matteo Berrettini earned a memorable third-round victory at Roland Garros on Saturday when he saved two match points to outlast Francisco Comesana 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(13) in a five-set marathon.

Competing in Paris for the first time since 2021, when he reached the quarter-finals, Berrettini is one win shy of matching that result. Berrettini, who reached the 2021 Wimbledon final, is one of only three Grand Slam finalists remaining in the singles draw, alongside Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev.

"Francisco played an unbelievable match," Berrettini said. "It was an unbelievable match, I really had to find my way [through] and I gave it everything I had."

The Italian produced a gritty display in the deciding-set tie-break, relying on big serving in the key moments and holding firm after facing two match points at 8/9 and 12/13. The Italian eventually converted his fourth match point to seal victory after five hours and 13 minutes on Court Simonne-Mathieu in the second-longest match of this year's tournament so far.

The 30-year-old will face Juan Manuel Cerundolo for a place in the quarter-finals. Cerundolo, who stunned Jannik Sinner in the second round, also endured a marathon match Saturday, edging Martin Landaluce 6-4, 6-7(9), 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 7-6(8) in a nearly six-hour-long third-round thriller.

In other action, World No. 36 in the PIF ATP Rankings Alejandro Tabilo poured cold water on the red-hot run of 17-year-old Moise Kouame, outlasting the teenager 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(9). The Chilean is into the fourth round of a major for the first time.

"I am just really, really happy," Tabilo said following his milestone victory. "I knew it was going to be a tough match. Kouame is playing unbelievable and this atmosphere is crazy. I don't think I have seen anything like this before. I am just really proud I was able to get through that."

Kouame, who defeated former World No. 3 Marin Cilic in the opening round followed by a five-set win against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, looked on course to reach the fourth round after claiming the opening set.

However, Tabilo responded strongly, winning the next two sets before holding his nerve in a tense fourth-set tie-break. He maintained his composure and eventually converted his fourth match point to seal the victory. Tabilo collapsed to the clay in celebration after the three-hour, 40-minute battle.

With the triumph, the 28-year-old became the fourth Chilean man to reach the Roland Garros fourth round this century, joining Fernando Gonzalez (2003, 2008-09), Cristian Garin (2021) and Nicolas Jarry (2023).

Tabilo has enjoyed a strong clay-court season this year. The 28-year-old reached the quarter-finals at the ATP 250 events in Santiago and Buenos Aires, advanced to the final at ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro, and earlier this month captured the ATP Challenger Tour title in Aix-en-Provence.