The match between Andy Murray (62nd in the world), three-time Grand Slam winner, and Matteo Berrettini (142nd), finalist at Wimbledon in 2021, ended up swinging in favor of the Briton, winner of the Italian 4-6, 6-3 , 6-4 in 2h48 in the first round of the Masters 1000 in Miami, Wednesday.
Berrettini made his return to the ATP circuit at the Florida tournament, six and a half months after his right ankle injury forced him to retire in the second round of the US Open against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech. Claiming his protected ranking (72nd at the time of his injury) to directly enter the final table.
In order to best prepare for this return, the Italian, 27, played last week in the challenger (2nd division of the ATP) in Phoenix, reaching the final.
In the most prestigious poster of this first round in Miami, the former world number 6 immediately trapped the former number 1, snatching his serve from the start to come away 2-0.
The Scottish veteran, 36, was never able to make up for this late service, despite two break points at 4-3, and Berrettini won this first set 6-4 on his commitment.
In the second set, Murray this time held his serve, before taking that of his opponent at 3-2, on his third break point, to win this set 6-3.
A set where Berrettini was dizzy, staggered and almost fell as he prepared to serve at 5-2.
After his blood pressure was taken on the court where the temperature was around 26 degrees, and he fed himself, the tall Italian, measuring 1.96 m, resumed the game.
But Murray, combative, more enterprising, very good at returning, had already gained the upper hand. After winning the second set, he took the opposing service after a first game of the last round which lasted 13 minutes.
Despite the resistance of Berrettini, often on the verge of breaking, Murray ended up winning, and will meet in the second round the Argentinian Tomas Etchecverry (30th), who is coming out of the South American winter campaign on clay.