Stan Wawrinka and Matteo Berrettini made a remarkable entrance in their first appearance at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech, cruising through their opening matches. Wawrinka, celebrating his recent 39th birthday, made history as the oldest winner at the tournament by securing a straight-set victory over Albert Ramos-Vinolas in just 75 minutes, enhancing his undefeated record against the Spaniard to 9-0. Reflecting on his win, Wawrinka expressed his satisfaction and anticipation for future matches, reminiscing about his victory at the event’s previous venue in Casablanca back in 2010. Looking ahead, Wawrinka is set to face Argentine seventh seed Mariano Navone in the second round.
Berrettini Triumphs in Comeback Match
Berrettini marked a significant milestone in his return from injury with a commanding victory over the sixth-seeded Alexander Shevchenko, winning 6-2, 6-1. This win not only marks his first tour-level triumph of 2024 but also showcases his sharp form and agility, especially noteworthy as this is only his fourth clay event since Roland Garros in 2021. The ex-world No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings demonstrated exceptional ball striking and movement.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Berrettini shared, “It’s fantastic to return to the game. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this moment,” acknowledging the challenge of a seven-month hiatus due to a severe ankle injury. He added, “The break only fueled my passion and energy for tennis, and I’m thoroughly enjoying my time on the court again.”
Berrettini Triumphs in Maiden Encounter; Italian Trio Advances
In their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, 27-year-old Berrettini dominated with an impressive 84% (21/25) first serve points won, showcasing his power over his opponent. This victory marks a strong beginning as Berrettini aims to build on his recent finalist achievement at the ATP Challenger Tour 175 in Phoenix. Reflecting on his performance, Berrettini expressed his satisfaction, highlighting the unexpected yet beneficial series of matches that contributed to his win in Morocco. Additionally, his compatriots, Flavio Cobolli and Fabio Fognini, also made successful strides. Cobolli, at 21, defeated Abdullah Shelbayh with scores of 6-1, 6-4, advancing to the next round, while Fognini overcame Hugo Gaston in a gripping match, securing his win with scores of 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4.
Italian Tennis Flourishing, Marrakech Tournament Updates
Matteo Berrettini praised the thriving Italian tennis scene, highlighting Jannik Sinner’s exceptional performance and hard work. He acknowledged the contributions of past Italian players like Fabio Fognini and Marco Cecchinato and noted the promising future with young talents like Flavio Cobolli. Berrettini feels optimistic about Italy’s prospects, especially in challenging competitions like the Davis Cup.
At the Marrakech tournament, champions Roberto Carballes Baena and David Goffin advanced to the second round. Carballes Baena’s match against Matteo Gigante ended prematurely due to Gigante’s retirement, setting up Carballes Baena’s next game against Daniel Evans. Goffin secured a victory over Arthur Rinderknech and will face Nicolas Moreno De Alboran next. First-round successes were also seen with Aleksandar Vukic and Sumit Nagal, who are set to compete against Sebastian Ofner and Lorenzo Sonego, respectively.
