Stefanos Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini will meet in what will be an exciting semi-final at the 2024 Swiss Open in Gstaad.
Not often do two former Grand Slam finalists meet in a semi-final of an ATP 250 tournament, but that's the case only a week prior to the Olympic Games, as both semi-final protagonists are trying to fine-tune their clay-court game.
They had plenty of time to adjust to the red dirt, as they both lost already in the second round of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. While Tsitsipas was stunned by Emil Rusuuvuori, Berrettini played a stunning match to push Jannik Sinner, but ultimately, he didn't have enough.
Now, they will meet in the city where Berrettini won his first career title, and where the city's high altitude makes the ball fly faster and benefits tall players like them, which makes it no surprise that they both made it to the last four.
The two have played in only three ATP Tour-level matches, but they really had seven competitive meetings and should have had nine. Their first-ever match happened back in 2017, when both were yet to break through and played in a very intense US Open qualifying match, in which Tsitsipas won 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 7-6(2).
Two years later, they already met in the main draw of the Australian Open, and the Greek player was already seeded as 14th, winning the match 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(4). That was also their first official Tour-level match.
The following year, they played an exhibition match in Kooyong prior to the season's first major, and like their first match, this one was also decided only in tie-breaks, with Tsitsipas winning 7-6(4), 7-6(6).
Then, during the COVID-19-hit season, both participated in Patrick Mouratoglou's Ultimate Tennis Showdown, and they even met twice during one week. First, they played against each other in the group stage, with Tsitsipas winning the match with special scoring 3-2.
However, they then also played in the final of the competition, and that was the only match in which Berrettini ever beat the Greek player, lifting the UTS trophy.
The following year, they should have met at the Australian Open again, but the Italian was forced to withdraw from the tournament, and possibly even more bitter memory for him is losing to Tsitsipas on his home soil at the 2021 Italian Open in Rome 6-7(3), 2-6.
To make it 3-0 in official Tour-level matches, Tsitsipas beat Berrettini at the 2023 United Cup, winning the match 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4, as every single match they have ever played featured at least one tie-break.
Lastly, they should have met one more time and once again at the Australian Open, but once again, Berrettini was forced to withdraw from the tournament.
| Matteo Berrettini | Stefanos Tsitsipas | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | H2H | 3 |
| 82 | Rank | 12 |
| 28 | Age | 25 |
| 14-5 | 2024 W/L | 32-12 |
| 170-91 | Career W/L | 332-155 |
There is no doubt that the Greek player is a far-better clay-court player, having led 2-0 against Novak Djokovic in the 2021 French Open. However, many forget that Berrettini is also a very solid clay-court player and even a former champion in Gstaad.
If this matchup happened last year, or at any other time, when it comes to Tsitsipas, he could be considered a favorite and likely winner, but given his Italian opponent's history at the event, altitude that will help his serve, and his recent form, Berrettini should win this match.
Prediction: Matteo Berrettini to win in three sets.