Matteo Berrettini’s clay-court comeback continued Saturday in Marrakech, where the Italian battled past Mariano Navone 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2 to reach the championship match at the Grand Prix Hassan II.
A former No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Berrettini is this week in Morocco competing in just his fourth event on clay since 2021 Roland Garros. He had dropped just one set en route to the semi-finals, but needed two hours, 42 minutes to secure victory against Navone and set a final clash with defending champion Roberto Carballes Baena.
“It’s been [nearly] three hours, so I’m pretty tired, but I’m really happy,” said Berrettini in his on-court interview. “I think it was definitely the toughest match of the week. Congrats to him, he played a really solid match. The conditions changed so much.
“The [crowd] helped me so much. The support was unbelievable. I’m a little tired but too excited for the final tomorrow.”
The final is set 🍿
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Carballes Baena fights to defend his title, whilst Berrettini is striving for his first title since 2022 💪#GrandPrixHassanII pic.twitter.com/r9bZN2LCOG
Berrettini won 77 per cent (50/65) of points behind his first serve to see off Navone, who was an ATP 500 finalist on clay earlier this year in Rio de Janeiro. The Italian held a set point when serving for the opening set at 6-5, but was ultimately forced to rally from behind when Navone claimed the set in a tie-break.
Sunday’s meeting with the World No. 64 Carballes Baena will be Berrettini’s first tour-level final since Naples in October 2022 (l. to Musetti). Berrettini, who missed six months with an ankle injury before returning to competitive action in March, is bidding to win his eighth ATP Tour crown.
“I don’t even remember the last time I made an ATP Tour final,” he said. “I worked really hard to be here again, to be healthy, to enjoy what I’m doing. I’m really grateful for everything that is happening.”
Carballes Baena earlier extended his winning streak in Marrakech to nine matches with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph against Pavel Kotov in the first semi-final of the day. The Spaniard converted four of six break points he earned in his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Kotov to move within one win of his third ATP Tour crown.
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