a year ago, Matteo Berettini Reached the semi-finals of Australian Open – Loss to the ultimate champion Rafael Nadal — and seemed headed for another exciting season when the hand of fate intervened.
In fact, it was the Italian’s right hand who underwent surgery after Indian Wells. Berrettini was sidelined for three months and never regained the form that catapulted him as high as the Pepperstone ATP rankings of No. 6.
On Tuesday, Brittini will know exactly where he stands when he takes on the world number three Casper Road. Berrettini will be looking to help Italy advance to Group E with victory over Norway. Italy leads 2-0 after winning from Lorenzo Musetti and Martina Trevisan on Monday.
The Italian national team is full of talent, especially on the men’s side. Vincenzo SantopadreBerettini’s coach for nearly twelve years, is the captain of the team.
“As I said yesterday, unfortunately the captain is not the best we can get, but we will find out during the matches,” Berrettini said when the team met the media. “No, it’s great to be able to experience something like this with my coaches, with my best friends. Yesterday at dinner we were thinking about it when we started. We were 12.”
Santopader replied with a smile, “I really agree with everyone. Of course, not with Mateo. Unfortunately we have this player with us. We have to share moments together.”
France turns to Garcia
The scenario is clear: the winner of the match between France and Croatia will advance to the City final in Perth. After Monday’s result, it was 2-0 Croatia.
The pressure turns to Caroline Garcia, who will play for the first time on Tuesday, when she takes on Petra Martic in the first of three other Group F matches.
But if there’s someone you want in this situation, it’s Garcia.
Four years ago, she got a tear and landed inside the Hologic WTA Tour Top 10. Then, after a series of injuries and the uncertainties that came with it, she battled for three seasons, ending 2021 ranked world number 74.
Fully committed to her ultra-aggressive game, Garcia is rejuvenated in 2022, culminating in a title at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth. At the age of 29, she sat at world number four, matching her career high.
Do you feel differently this time?
“Yeah, I think five years changes a lot in the way you do things,” she told reporters before United Cup I started in Perth. “I think I’ve had experience from the past too, and obviously ranking is important but it doesn’t mean who you are, or how you play or whatever. I just try to do my thing, practice as much as I can. I can. [the ranking] It just helps to have some practice pitches, things like that, that make your life easier, but after that, you’re still the same person.”
If Garcia can win, it will be up to France Adrian Mannarino to continue to return. facing Croatia Burna Jojo. The mixed doubles rubber will determine the winner of the set if Garcia and Mannarino both win.
Garcia got off to a great start for the France team, losing just two games to Argentine Nadia Podorowska. France were 5-0 winners, but they have some work to do against Croatia on Tuesday. The two sides entered the pivotal Group F competition with a 1-0 record, but on Monday Donna Vekic gave Croatia an early 1-0 lead, edging out Alize Cornet. Arthur Renderknech And the Borna Couric He played the late game, which Koric won.
He has defeated Garcia Martic four times in five. However, the two split last year with Martic winning the Lausanne semi-final and Garcia excelling in the first round in Cincinnati. Garcia is also slated to play mixed doubles with the captain Edward Roger Vaslin.
“Petra is also a good test, a good challenge,” said Garcia. “We’ve had a few very tight matches in the past, and we kind of have the same weapons, so we’ll see who can use them the most.”
The next step for Garcia is a Grand Slam singles title. After reaching the semi-finals in US Open Championship Last fall, you want more.
“It definitely gave me a lot of confidence,” Garcia said. “It’s been something I haven’t really been able to achieve in the past, so it’s always been my dream and my goal to win the Grand Slam, so obviously to make it more realistic to be able to get to the semi-finals, but it’s still the highest steps to get there, and I’m going to try.”
Also at work
Brisbane will host two men’s singles matches on Tuesday. After meeting Beretini and Rudd in the daily session, meeting Poland Hubert Hurkach You will meet Switzerland Stan Wawrinka In the evening. The second group match, the winner of which will advance to the City final, is complicated by a 1-1 draw. The winner of the first ATP Header 2 meeting between Hurkacz and Wawrinka would put his country to within one victory to win the set.
Greece must win one of their three matches on Tuesday to advance in Perth, where Maria Sakkari will play Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the first rubber match of the day. The tie was tied at 1-1, but Greece would top Group A even after the 3-2 defeat.
The winners of both Sydney groups have already been decided, as the USA and Great Britain gear up for the final in the city. Jessica Pegula f Francis Tiafoe He will seek to complete a 2-0 series lead for the Americans who are leading France 2-0. Spain and Australia will also compete in Sydney, tied at 1-1.
Day 5: What’s on the line
Final qualifying scenarios for the city
Brisbane
Group B: Poland and Switzerland tied 1-1 after Monday. The winner will advance to the City Final.
Group E: Italy leads Norway 2-0 after Monday. If the Italians win, they will qualify. If Norway returns, Brazil will qualify.
Perth
Group A: Greece and Belgium tied 1-1 after Monday. If Greece defeats Belgium or loses 3-2 to Belgium, Greece will qualify. If Belgium defeats Greece 4-1, Belgium will qualify.
Sixth group: Croatia leads France 2-0 after Monday. The winner of the tie will advance.
Sydney
Group C: The United States leads Germany 2-0 after Monday, but the Americans have already qualified for the Sydney City final.
Group D: Great Britain has already qualified. Spain and Australia tied 1-1 after Monday.
United CupDay 6: Order of play (local time)
sydney, Ken Rosewall Arena
USA (1-0): Germany (0-1) (Group C).
The USA leads 2-0
Jessica Pegula (USA) – Laura Siegmund (Germany) 10 am
Francis Tiafoe (USA) vs. Oscar Otti (GER), to continue
Jessica Pegula f Taylor Fritz (United States) v. Julia Lohoff Fabian Walert (GER), to continue
Spain (0-1): Australia (0-1) (Group D).
tied 1-1
Paula Badosa (Spain) vs. Zoe Hayes (Australia), 4:30 p.m
Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) vs. Jason Cobbler (Australia), to continue
Paula Badusa W Rafael Nadal (Spain) vs. Samantha Stosur John Pearce (Australia), to continue
Perth, RAC Arena
Greece (1-0) – Belgium (0-1) (Group A).
tied 1-1
Maria Sakkari (Greece) vs. Elise Mertens (Belgium), 10 am
Michael Pervoularakis (GRE) vs. Zizou Bergs (BEL), to continue
Maria Scary f Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) v. Elise Mertens W David Goffin (BEL), to continue
France (1-0): Croatia (1-0) (Group F).
Croatia lead 2-0
Caroline Garcia (France) vs. Petra Martic (Czech Republic), 4:30 p.m
Adrian Mannarino (FRA) vs. Burna Jojo (CRO), to continue
Caroline Garcia W Edward Roger Vaslin (France) vs. Donna Vekic Borna Couric (CRO), to continue
Brisbane, Pat Rafter Arena
Italy (1-0) – Norway (0-1) (Group E).
Italy leads 2-0
Matteo Berettini (ITA) vs. Casper Road (nor), at 10 a.m
Lucia Bronzetti (Italy) vs Ulrike Ekere (Northern Norway), to follow
Camila Rosatello f Andrea Vavassori (ITA) v. Ulrikke Eikeri Victor Durasovich (nor), to continue
Poland (1-0) – Switzerland (1-0) (Group B).
tied 1-1
Hubert Hurkach (Paul) vs. Stan Wawrinka (SWI), at 4:30 p.m
Magda Linette (Poland) vs. Jill Teichmann (Switzerland) to follow
Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkach (Poland) vs. Belinda Bencic W Stan Wawrinka (SWI), to follow up