Berrettini Eliminates Munar in Tokyo: First ATP Tour Win in Four Months for the Italian

After a series of painful injuries, Matteo Berrettini found reason to smile again by winning his match against Jaume Munar in Tokyo.

Having been plagued by injuries in recent years, Matteo Berrettini was eager to return to winning ways on the ATP Tour at the ATP 500 tournament in Tokyo. Now ranked 56th in the world, the Italian was playing his second match since Wimbledon.

After losing his opening match in Hangzhou to lucky loser Dalibor Svrcina (6-3, 6-3), the former world No. 6 dominated Jaume Munar (6-4, 6-2 in 1 hour and 35 minutes). The world No. 40 could have had a different outcome, but he failed to convert any of the eight break points he earned during the match.

On the other side, Berrettini, who delivered a strong serving performance (9 aces, 0 double faults, and 79% of points won behind his first serve), was comfortable on return (3 breaks) and quickly wrapped up the match.

This marks the 29-year-old player’s first victory on the ATP Tour since last May 10, when he defeated Jacob Fearnley (6-4, 7-6) in the first round of the Rome Masters 1000.

The 2021 Wimbledon finalist thus ends a drought of three consecutive losses and advances to the round of 16. He will face either Casper Ruud, the No. 4 seed, or Shintaro Mochizuki, a tournament wildcard, for a spot in the quarterfinals in the Japanese capital.