Berrettini's comeback halted by fortunate loser Svrcina in Hangzhou opener

Hangzhou

Berrettini’s comeback halted by fortunate loser Svrcina in Hangzhou opener

22-year-old Czech is up 10 spots to No. 89 within the PIF ATP Stay Rankings

September 18, 2025

Dalibor Svrcina delivered the most important win of his ATP Tour profession on Thursday on the Lynk & Co Hangzhou Open, the place he dismissed Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-3 within the Italian’s comeback from damage.

Making his first look since his first-round Wimbledon exit, Berrettini was unable to face up to the 22-year-old Czech’s fearless ball-striking on the Chinese language ATP 250 occasion. Regardless of shedding within the second spherical of qualifying only a day earlier, Svrcina grabbed his probability as a fortunate loser and has risen 10 spots to a career-high No. 89 within the PIF ATP Stay Rankings.

“Clearly I wasn’t the favorite coming into this match, so I simply wished to return right here, get pleasure from and play freely,” mentioned Svrcina. “Yesterday I misplaced within the qualies, so I’m pleased I obtained the possibility to play once more and I believe I made probably the most out of it.

“Matteo is an unimaginable participant, he’s coming [back] from damage… Clearly he’s not the place he desires to be, however I’m very proud of the win at this time and it’s the most important of my profession thus far.”

Backed by rock-solid defence and fast court docket protection, Svrcina struck 17 winners to Berrettini’s 11 and saved the one break level he confronted, in response to Infosys ATP Stats, throughout their 85-minute battle. His reward: a second-round conflict with Buyunchaokete or Zhang Zhizhen.

Berrettini, who had reached quarter-finals in Miami, Dubai and Doha earlier this 12 months — together with his first win over Novak Djokovic — confirmed indicators of rust after a two-and-a-half month layoff, tallying 15 unforced errors in his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head match with Svrcina.

In different Day 2 motion in Hangzhou, Tomas Martin Etcheverry eased previous Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-4 to notch his twentieth tour-level victory of the season, turning into the second Argentine to take action after Francisco Cerundolo (33). Etcheverry awaits qualifier Rinky Hijikata or fifth seed Camilo Ugo Carabelli.