Matteo Berrettini Demolishes Daniil Medvedev in Double Bagel Humiliation

Matteo Berrettini had been a man hoping for some change in fortunes coming into Monte Carlo.

He would have hoped that the clay season would bring a change in fortunes; however, even he could not have written the script better than the way things have unfolded for him in this tournament so far. In his first match, he had to play only four games before his opponent, Roberto Bautista Agut, pulled out with an injury.

Berrettini Demolishes Medvedev in Monte Carlo

His next match pitted him against Medvedev, probably not the man you want to play when struggling for wins, especially when you’ve never beaten him in three matches. What unfolded was what no one could have predicted as the Italian came out flying, breaking Medvedev in his first service game, and only in the second game of the match.

At the time, everyone watching would have felt that it would at best settle the Italian and give him some belief that he could, in fact, pull off what many would have considered a mini-upset. Unfortunately for Medvedev, it set the tempo of what was to come as Berrettini did not relent, powering on to claim the first set with an astonishing 6-0 scoreline that no one could have possibly predicted.

The Italian’s performance can only be described as a masterclass, as he controlled the match with his serve and forehand, and even when forced onto the backhand wing, he utilised his slice remarkably, which, surprisingly, Medvedev struggled to deal with throughout the set.

No Way Back

As it is with Medvedev being one of the ATP’s finest problem solvers, it was expected that going into the second set, he’d begin to find some answers and claw his way back into the match. If that was the hope or expectation, any ideas in that direction were quickly dispelled as he was again, like in the first set, broken in the second game of the set. He reacted by smashing his racquet numerous times as he could no longer contain his frustration about what was happening in front of him.

Even the racquet smash, which is often known to galvanise players, did nothing for him other than a warning that customarily follows such conduct on the court.  One break became two, and soon it was clear to everyone watching that it would not be Medvedev’s day, as he appeared to have deserted the match mentally.

The conversation soon switched to whether the Italian could hand him his first-ever career double bagel when he served to make it 5-0 in the second set. The answer to that came soon after as the Russian stood up to the line, and in keeping with what was now the theme of the day, surrendered his sixth service game to the inspired Berretini, capping off a truly horrendous day with a 6-0, 6-0 defeat. The entire match lasted only 49 minutes, highlighting not only a demolition job the Italian had done, but one done in double-quick time.

For the Italian it will certainly be a memorable day and tournament so far. He now heads into the second, having won sixteen games without reply. It is unlikely that this particular record will last long, but it will do him a world of good as he looks to get his career back on track.