First tough opponent for Zverev!

Alexander Zverev has his sights set high at Wimbledon this year. After being unable to take part last year due to injury, he now wants to at least build on his run to the last 16 two years ago.

To do so, he would have to win the upcoming match against the Italian Matteo Berrettini. His opponent, however, feels very comfortable on grass and even reached the Wimbledon final in 2021! In that final, he was beaten in four sets by seven-time tournament winner Novak Djokovic, but an appearance in the final of the world’s most important grass-court tournament is still something to be proud of.

Nevertheless, the Zverev vs Berrettini odds assign the German the role of favourite – but in comparatively moderate form. So far, the Hamburg native has also presented himself robustly at Wimbledon. He only dropped one set on his way to the third round. However, his opponent from Rome counters this record with only one lost set in London, whereby his match schedule was even more demanding in comparison.

For the exciting duel between two grass court players on equal terms between Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini, the tip is for the Italian to win at least 20 games.

Alexander Zverev – Statistics & Current Form

Last year famously did not go well for Zverev. After the serious injury in the semi-finals of the then French Open, the season was almost over until the end of the year. Only then did the German return to the court, but the long break from the game had left its mark.

So the comeback was not very successful at first and in the meantime the North German had to settle for the unaccustomed role of number 2 in Germany, as Jan-Lennard Struff overtook him in the world rankings. Since this year’s French Open, however, it can be said that the right-hander has probably found his way back to his old strength.

At least he made it all the way to the semi-finals at Roland Garros. Apparently, the change of coach in the meantime has paid off. His father once again took over this function.

Late debut on grass

The following grass season, however, got off to a bumpy start. A minor injury led to the cancellation of the Boss Open in Stuttgart. He therefore only celebrated his debut on the green surface in 2023 in Halle.

Once again, the way led to the semi-finals of the Terra Wortmann Open and the defeat against Alexander Bublik was somewhat surprising, but the Kazakh performed strongly throughout the tournament and subsequently also won the title.

Within the current competition, the 2021 Olympic champion has again so far had more trouble with the rain-delayed match schedules than with his opponents. He had to play his second-round match against Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki just a day after his opener against Dutchman Gijs Brouwer.

Match schedule has been very merciful so far

In both games he hardly revealed any problems, but this was also due to the lack of quality of his opponents. Brouwer had only slipped into the main draw thanks to a successful qualification and Watanuki was only a “lucky loser” in the tournament.

Now, of course, the German faces a tougher task with the former Wimbledon finalist. In light of this, betting on more than a tiebreak in the duel between Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini is also recommended.

As the match pits two players with similar playing strengths against each other, who have so far impressed with their service, there are indications that more than one set will be decided by a tiebreak. Berrettini has not yet had to concede a single break in the course of the tournament and in the case of Zverev, only one service game that he did not win can be discovered in the last match against Watanuki.

Matteo Berrettini – Statistics & current form

Matteo Berrettini looks back on a short grass court season in 2023. He only competed at the tournament on Stuttgart’s Killesberg before Wimbledon. In addition, his appearance at the Boss Open was short. After a defeat against his compatriot Lorenzo Sonego, his flying visit to the Swabian climes was already over.

Before the start of the London tournament, one had to worry about the right-hander’s form. His completed matches in the All England Club quickly dispelled such doubts.

In the first round he took revenge on Sonego for the previous defeat in the “Ländle” and in the second round he really turned up the heat. Against the strong Australian Alex de Minaur, Berrettini scored a smooth 3:0 victory.

Italian can be particularly proud of latest win

An impressive triumph, because the opponent from Down Under is not only more than 20 places higher in the world rankings, but is also a respectable grass court player. Last year, he reached the last 16 at Wimbledon and in 2021 he already won a tournament on the ATP Tour on this surface.

Berrettini was convincing in the duel with his confident play at the net, where he successfully completed around two thirds of his attacks, and with his very well-placed groundstrokes – as can be seen from his 38 direct points.

Against the backdrop of his recent successful performance against a strong opponent who is on a similar level to his upcoming opponent, the match between Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini offers additional predictions and odds on a victory for the Italian, including a handicap of + 1.5 sets for him.

Alexander Zverev – Matteo Berrettini Direct comparison / H2H record

The last direct duel between Zverev and the world number 38 took place in November 2021 at the then ATP Finals in Turin. It ended with a victory for the German. This came after just one set because his opponent had to retire injured.

Zverev won the only set played in a tiebreak and went on to win the tournament. Moreover, the two professionals had already met four times before and Berrettini only prevailed once. On the other hand, the duel is now celebrating its premiere on grass!

Alexander Zverev – Matteo Berrettini Tip

For the 3rd round match at Wimbledon between Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini, betting and odds on the Roman winning more than 19.5 games is worth a recommendation. His opponent is generally considered to have a stronger game, but on grass the match can be regarded as largely even.

Berrettini is not only the first Italian to reach the Wimbledon final, but has also won four ATP Tour tournaments on grass – two in Stuttgart and two at the Queen’s Club in London. Furthermore, he had the tougher path at Wimbledon so far compared to Zverev and still mastered the tasks with aplomb.

The German, for his part, admittedly performed equally solidly, but the victories against a qualifier and “lucky loser” were more compulsory than freestyle in the end. They can only be used to a limited extent as an indicator of his condition against a now clearly stronger opponent.

The described starting position therefore suggests a contested match in which Berrettini should win at least one set and the rounds are basically closer. An assumption on which the selection of the Zverev vs. Berrettini forecast is based on over 19.5 games won by the Italian.