After staying out of action since the 2023 US Open, Matteo Berrettini returned to the Tour in March this year. Ever since making a coming back, it seems as if he has finally found his rhythm back! The 28-year-old Italian tennis star started his season by making it to the finals of the Challenger Phoenix, US. After that, he won a title at the Grand Prix Hassan II and also made a deep run in the Stuttgart Open. Can he carry forward this momentum in Halle, Germany?

On the other hand, the 19-year-old American rising star Alex Michelsen is still a newcomer to the men’s tour. He made his professional debut in 2023, and so far, he has already made two QF runs in other tournaments this year. Both players are looking decent at the moment. It’ll be interesting to see who takes the step forward in this enticing encounter.

Matteo Berrettini vs Alex Michelsen: Preview

Matteo Berrettini is entering this tournament after his disappointing loss to British tennis star Jack Draper in the finals of the Stuttgart Open. Draper defeated the 2021 Wimbledon finalist 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4. Despite the defeat, fans witnessed how Berrettini’s game bloomed as soon as he stepped onto the grass. In that match, the Italian hit a staggering fourteen aces and committed just three double faults. His first serve win percentage was 83%, while it was just 57% on the second serve. Berrettini could only convert one of his four breakpoints against Jack Draper.

If we take a look at his numbers from this season, the former world number six has hit 99 aces and committed 19 double faults. He has won almost 91% of his service games and 22% of his return games.

Alex Michelsen on the other hand has failed to win a match in his first two grass tournaments this year. However, in this tournament, he has already earned two victories in the qualifiers. In his previous match, the American defeated Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 6-2. He hit four aces in that match and committed just one double fault. His first-serve win percentage was 89%, and his second-serve win percentage was 63%. Michelsen could only convert three out of his six breakpoints against the German.

The youngster has looked quite impressive this season, but he needs to find more consistency in his game. He has hit 102 aces so far this year and has committed 69 double faults. Alex Michelsen won 74% of his service games and 23% of his return games. He has to make full use of the chances that he will get in this match to stand a chance against this grass-court specialist.

Berrettini vs Michelsen: Head-to-Head

Currently, their H2H scoreline is at 0-0. Both the players haven’t yet faced each other on the tour, but they will be keen to have some good game time in this warm-up tournament ahead of the Wimbledon. Matteo Berrettini is currently ranked 65 in the world, while the American (61) is ranked four places above him. Is that enough to put him ahead of the Italian in this intriguing matchup?

Prediction: Berrettini to win in straight sets

Matteo Berrettini is a force to reckon with on grass courts. However, the injury-prone player needs to be completely fit! Is he fit enough to outclass the rising star? Well, the Italian’s performance this season perfectly answers this question. He currently has a win-loss record of 9-4 this season compared to the 11-16 of Alex Michelsen. His form and overall experience may give him the edge in this battle.

Berrettini loves to play an aggressive brand of tennis with strong serve and equally powerful backhands. However, his primary weapon is his forehand, as he can generate a lot of pace and spin in those shots. His net game also plays a crucial part, and Berrettini loves to finish off points from the net. However, his backhand is one of his weakest shots. On the other hand, Alex Michelsen has a strong two-handed backhand, and he tends to come forward, especially in his service games. So, this match has all the ingredients to be an exciting contest, but the experience of the Italian may have the last laugh in this epic faceoff!