Alexander Zverev was proclaimed champion in the Caja Mágica after coming back a set to Matteo Berrettini in the final of the Mutua Madrid Open (6-7, 6-4 and 6-3) in two hours and forty-two minutes of play. The German culminates a perfect week in the Spanish capital in which he has imposed on Nadal, Thiem and Berrettini and presents his candidacy for Rome and Roland Garros, without the expected protagonist, but with the well-deserved presence of Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini, Madrid he was preparing to put the finishing touch on more than ten days of tennis. The final, with an audience in the stands like the rest of the days, began with a heartfelt tribute to health workers for their work in the pandemic. Faced with the threat of rain, the game started with the roof covered in the central court of the Caja Mágica, a circumstance that ensured even more intensity in the racket of the two protagonists. Alexander Zverev barely took to put the 1-0, complying with the role of favorite not only because of his greater experience – seven finals and three Masters 1000 titles – but also because of running past Nadal and Thiem, the two greatest specialists on gravel, before entering his second final in Madrid . On the other side, Berrettini, number 10 and who was living his first final in a tournament of this nature, suffered more to make his debut on the scoreboard, but he did so after lifting a break ball with a drop shot. Berrettini hits first The Magic Box was witnessing of a great match, very even, with great blows and some services that exceeded 230 km / h on the Italian’s racket. It wasn’t until the seventh game that a new chance to break the scoreboard appeared. It was for Berrettini, who with a winning rest took the German’s service in his second chance.The Roman clenched his fist, but his joy did not last long as Zverev then achieved the counterbreak in a game in which he limited himself to putting balls inside and the debutant in Madrid was complicated. sudden death in charge of deciding who was awarded the first set. Berrettini took a run and enjoyed 5-0, but Zverev reacted and made it 6-6. His service became a double-edged sword, because with an ace the German had a set ball and with a double fault he conceded the fourth to the Italian, an opportunity that the Roman was no longer going to waste (7-6 (8) ). Berrettini took the set after an hour and ten of the match and became the only player to take a set from the German this week in Madrid. Zverev seizes the ‘gift’ Berrettini seemed thrown for his first Masters 1000, especially after to add their first three turns of blank serve. On the other side of the net, Zverev was somewhat listless, far from connecting the winners that had catapulted him to the final. But, paradoxically, it was the German who was faced with the possibility of breaking his rival’s serve. He did not do it the first time, saved by a powerful serve from the Italian, but he did in the crucial ninth game after a gift from Berrettini in the form of a double fault – the only one he committed – that put Zverev with 5-4 and serve. He did not forgive with his service and after almost two hours of play, the German equalized the contest (6-4). An agonizing third set began in which every detail could decide the title in Madrid. Berrettini kept displaying his great right hand and Zverev biding his time.The German roared after pulling out his serve after a double fault put him on the spot and raised the cry as he broke the Italian’s serve in the fifth game. With the duties already done, the German secured his serve and broke once again to put the final 6-7, 6-4 and 6-3) .Zverev has conquered the Mutua Madrid Open for the second time after going back to the Italian, who He stroked the title in his first participation in the final draw of the tournament. After a week in which he has prevailed over Nadal, Thiem and Berrettini, Zverev is emerging as a serious candidate to conquer Rome for the second time, the prelude to Roland Garros.
