On Saturday, Italy’s tennis powerhouse Matteo Berrettini (ATP-105) recorded a memorable victory in Paris.
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The 30-year-old, who dropped out of the top 100 of the world’s strongest tennis players, defeated Argentine Francisco Cerundolo (ATP-102) with a score of 7:6(4), 5:7, 6:7(4), 6:4, 7:6(13).
The match lasted 5 hours and 13 minutes – the second longest match of this year’s tournament, also ranking among the 10 longest in Roland Garros history.
In the fifth set tiebreak, M. Berrettini saved two match points and finally won, barely holding back tears.
By the way, the former world No. 6 is playing at Roland Garros for the first time since 2021 due to injuries, when he lost in the quarterfinals to Novak Djokovic.
M. Berrettini is one of three players remaining in this year’s tournament along with Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev, who have reached a Grand Slam final.
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The Italian tennis player’s opponent in the round of 16 will be the compatriot Jannik Sinner’s conqueror – Juan Manuel Cerundolo (ATP-56).
The latter defeated Martin Landaluce (ATP-69) in a tennis marathon lasting 5 hours and 57 minutes with a score of 6:4, 6:7(7), 7:6(4), 6:7(4), 7:6(8).
The nearly 6-hour match is the third longest in Roland Garros history. The Fabrice Santoro and Arnaud Clement encounter in 2004 lasted 6 hours and 33 minutes, and the battle between Lorenzo Giustino and Corentin Moutet in 2020 lasted 6 hours and 5 minutes.
The 24-year-old Argentine, who reached the Grand Slam round of 16 for the first time in his career, secured a debut in the Top 50.
“Hahaha. I can’t take it anymore. 6 hours – what madness. I am very happy, thank you all for the support. It’s time to sleep to see if I will play the round of 16 on one leg,” joked Cerundolo.
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