Berrettini Beats Murray For Stuttgart Title

Petenis Italia Matteo Berrettini (Instagram @matberrettini)

JAKARTA - Italy's Matteo Berrettini completed a successful comeback with a 6-4 5-7 6-3 victory over Andy Murray to win the Stuttgart ATP title on Sunday, July 12.

The 2021 Wimbledon finalist who last competed in March prior to hand surgery, thwarted Murray's first grasscourt title since the Scot won his second Wimbledon crown in 2016. Berrettini remains unbeaten (9-0) at the Stuttgart tournament after winning in 2019.

Former world number one Murray, as reported by AFP via Antara, looked eager to take over when he broke the Italian ranked 10th to equalize in the final with one set apiece.

But the momentum didn't last long, with 68th-ranked Murray dropping serve to start the third set. With a long-standing groin problem visibly bothering him, Murray called the coach.

He requested a medical timeout on the pitch but was never able to close the gap with 26-year-old Berrettini despite saving a match point in the final game.

After an uphill battle in the seventh game, Murray lay in front of his chair for a few moments to catch his breath as the coach looked again at his right hip and groin area.

The three-time Grand Slam champion held serve for 3-4 but was unable to stop the Italian's final push for victory thanks to 19 aces.

Murray is competing in the 70th final of his career. His last final was in Sydney in January, where he lost to Aslan Karatsev. Berrettini won his first trophy since Queen's a year ago before advancing to the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic.