Matteo Berrettini Books Showdown With Rune At Australian Open - UBITENNIS

Matteo Berrettini Books Showdown With Rune At Australian Open

By Adam Addicott
4 Min Read
Matteo Berrettini – ATP Brisbane 2025 (foto via Twitter @BrisbaneTennis)

Matteo Berrettini has a shot at revenge when he plays his second round match at the Australian Open later this week.

The former Wimbledon finalist began his latest campaign in Melbourne by coming back from a set down to beat Cameron Norrie 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3. It is the 50th Grand Slam match Berrettini has won in his career, as well as his 189th on the Tour overall. In his latest match, he hit 32 aces and won 85% of his first service points.

Berrettini’s victory has set him up for a clash with Denmark’s Holger Rune, who beat him twice last season. In both of those matches, the Italian was in a winning position before losing. Rune began his Australian Open bid with a roller-coaster 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, win over China’s Zhang Zhizhen.

“I remember in both matches I won the first set. Then I wasn’t able to close out the match,” Berrettini said of his rivalry with Rune.

“In Cincinnati… last year Cincinnati was crazy fast. Not fast, but also like you couldn’t control the ball. So I felt like really the match was decided by two points.

“Shanghai was on hard as well, but it was more playable. Shanghai was a solid match. I think I got broken once in the second and once in the third. So, again, a few points. Hopefully this next one, I’m going to try to win it.

“I remember (in the last two matches) that I was playing well, and then I guess he played just a little bit better than me.”

Berrettini, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals in 2022, is seven years older than Rune. Despite the age gap, he plays down the idea that there is a difference in playing styles.

“I think obviously tennis is always evolving, but at the same time, Holger came up so young. I feel like even though he’s seven years younger than me, I feel like we are in the same generation,” he explained.

“We like to play aggressive. We move really well, playing flat. He likes to play on the surface.

“I feel like the new generation — there aren’t players that can play only on one surface. I think this is something that it’s really important, especially with the calendar.”

As for three-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist Rune, he will be taking a technical approach to his upcoming match. He is making only his fourth appearance at the Australian Open with his best result so far being a run to the fourth round in 2023.

“Matteo is a great player.  It’s obviously different conditions here (in Australia). It’s best-of-five sets. That’s going to change a little bit,” Rune commented.

“I think I’m looking forward to it now. Rest, recover, get ready. Look also into the statistics, where I can hurt him the most.”

Berrettini and Rune are in the same section of the draw as top seed Jannik Sinner who one of them could play in the fourth round.

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