Matteo Berrettini battled back from a set down and stomach issues during the Australian Open first round.
The seventh seed held on to beat American Brandon Nakashima in a three-hour-10-minute struggle 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 on Margaret Court Arena.
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Berrettini scrawled “Imodium grazie!” on the courtside camera lens after completing his victory, but not until after making three emergency toilet breaks during the match.
Did you know that @mattberrettini had stomach issues today?
If not, he'll be happy to tell you 😬😂#AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/fYzD4WjcAa
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2022
“I’ve been feeling sick with my stomach, let’s say that,” Berrettini said.
Berrettini, who lost to Novak Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon final, called the trainer after losing the opening set but rallied to take the match in four sets.
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“It was really hard to play, especially the third and fourth set.
“(I was) playing a great match against Brandon… I told myself to fight, to do my best and in the end I won. I’m really happy.
“I was feeling that the match was changing a little bit there so I really held on with my mental strength mostly because my body wasn’t there,” Berrettini added.
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The 25-year-old will now face American wild card Stefan Kozlov in the second round.
Hurkacz through
In other action on Monday, 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz was made to work hard as he reached the second round at the Australian Open for the second time.
The 24-year-old fired 16 aces as he edged World No. 106 Egor Gerasimov 6-2, 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 6-3 in three hours and 15 minutes.
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The Pole, who is making his fourth appearance in Melbourne, will next face Adrian Mannarino after the 33-year-old battled past Australian James Duckworth 6-4, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 after three hours and 11 minutes.
