Are you ready for the blockbuster clash in Shanghai? Danish superstar Holger Rune takes on Matteo Berrettini (ITA) in the second round (R64) of the 2024 Shanghai Masters. Berrettini reached the SF of this tournament in 2019. However, last year Rune could only manage to reach the second round. Can the Dane forget that pain of a disappointing exit from the 2023 Shanghai Masters, or will Berrettini’s experience in this tournament help him secure a comfortable victory? 

Holger Rune vs Matteo Berrettini: Preview

Holger Rune started his season with a bang! He reached the final of the Brisbane International and then made it to the SFs in quite a few tournaments. Rune also reached the QF of the Indian Wells Masters this year. Despite these long runs, the Dane has failed to bring home a title in this season. He’s entering this tournament in Shanghai after a disappointing loss to France’s Arthur Fils in the SF of the Japan Open. Fils defeated him by 7-6(8),7-6(10).

Matteo Berrettini, on the other hand, has won three titles this season. He won the first title of this season at the Grand Prix Hassan II. After that in July this year, he won the Swiss Open, and this emphatic triumph was followed by yet another at the Austrian Open Kitzbuhel. Berrettini got off to a winning start in Shanghai. He defeated Australia’s Christopher O’Connell by 7-6(9),7-6(5) in the first round (R128). What will be the scoreline in the next?

Rune vs Berrettini: Head-to-Head

Before jumping to the predictions, let’s take a look at their previous records. Both these players have faced each other quite a few times now. Currently, Holger Rune leads the H2H scoreline by a 2-1 margin.

• 2022 Indian Wells Masters R64: Berrettini 6-3,4-6,6-4.
• 2023 Acapulco QF: Rune 6-0,1-0 (RET).
• 2023 Monte Carlos Masters R16: Berrettini gave walkover to Rune.
• 2024 Cincinnati Masters R64: 2-6,6-1,6-4.

Prediction: Berrettini to win in three sets

Although Matteo Berrettini is currently ranked 44th in the world, he has a win-loss record of 31-9. Holger Rune (14), on the other hand, is ranked way above the Italian but he has a win-loss record of just 36-20. So, considering their current form and their previous performances in the big matches, we expect the Italian star to win this race.

If we take a look at their playing styles, Holger Rune is more of an all-court player with notable defensive skills. He loves using his compact forehand and his consistent backhand to unsettle his opponents during the matches. He’s a good server and also has an aggressive return. Holger Rune has hit 376 aces this season and committed 163 double faults. Last time, while playing against Matteo Berrettini in Cincinnati, we saw him neutralizing the Italian’s biggest weapon (serve) and perhaps this might cause some trouble for Berrettini in this match as well.

Matteo Berrettini is an aggressive all-court player. He is known for his strong serve and forehands. He has hit 284 aces so far this season and has committed just 50 double faults. Berrettini loves setting up quick points and hitting winners with aggressive play. Interestingly, his transitional and net game are also integral parts of his game to finish off points. Matteo Berrettini has also garnered a reputation for his incredible serve-and-volleys. However, his backhand is not as strong as his forehand. He can also disguise his opponents by hitting drop shots on both wings. After hitting the drop shot, he’s often seen running down the net to finish off the points in a stylish manner.

Berrettini’s main weakness is his defensive game. If he manages to put Holger Rune on the back foot right from the word ‘go’ in this match, then this match can wrap up pretty quickly. However, we’re expecting a fight from Rune in this match but Berrettini is most likely to have the last laugh!