The grass season is on but the hunger to get on top is still the same for all the players. It is the Stuttgart Open and all the players are set to showcase their dominance yet again and clinch the prestigious title. One among them is Matteo Berrettini who will be coming into the grass season after a long-time injury. However, standing in his way will be the Canadian superpower Denis Shapovalov.

With the stage set for an epic encounter between the two highly experienced players, one thing is certain: it will certainly be a match to look out for. That being said, who amongst the two is most likely to come out on top in this mouth-watering encounter?

Matteo Berrettini vs Denis Shapovalov: Preview

Ranked No. 95, Matteo Berrettini reached the second round in Stuttgart by defeating Roman Safiullin 7-6, 5-7, 7-5. Despite winning fewer points overall (116 to Safiullin’s 124), Berrettini excelled in key moments. He hit 68 winners and served 27 aces with only one double fault. Berrettini won 72% of his first serves and 59% of his second serves, facing just one break point. He broke Safiullin once from five opportunities. Berrettini’s best result this year was winning the Marrakech title. He has a 10-3 record in 2024, including 1-0 on grass, and a career 40-9 record on grass.

On the other hand, his opponent, in the first round, defeated Martineau 7-6, 7-5. Shapovalov scored 85 points to Martineau’s 82, hitting 47 winners. He served 9 aces but had 10 double faults. Shapovalov lost serve once but saved 6 break points. He landed 61% of his first serves, winning 80% of those points and 43% on his second serve. Shapovalov broke Martineau twice from four chances. In 2024, Shapovalov has a 12-15 win-loss record, including 1-1 on grass. His best career result at this tournament was reaching the quarterfinals in 2021.

Berrettini vs Shapovalov: Head-to-head

When it comes to the head-to-head stats between the two players, Denis Shapovalov is a clear winner among the two stars. Interestingly, these two stars have faced each other a total of two times and on both occasions, the Canadian powerhouse has come out on top. Here is the event breakdown between the two players.

• St. Petersburg Open

6 years ago, these stars came head to head against each other for the very first time. However, the Canadian superstar came out on top. In a thrilling three-set encounter, Shapovalov showed his dominance. After a hard-fought win in the first set 7-6, the Italian was determined to turn things around in the second set. Eventually, he managed to turn the tie around and won the second set 6-4. With the stage set for the decider, the Canadian superstar bounced back and gave Berrettini absolutely no chance to win the match. The final scoreline of the match remained 7-6, 4-6, 6-0.

• Davis Cup Finals

The second time these two faced against each other was back in 2019 in the Davis Cup. This time, both players played neck-to-neck in what was a mouth-watering encounter. The match was nothing short of sensational and in the end, it was the Canadian superstar who came out on top yet again with the scoreline of 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5).

Thus, when it comes to the head-to-head stats, the Canadian superstar is a clear winner among the two. With the third encounter set to take place between the two, which player has the highest chance of coming out on top?

Prediction: Denis Shapovalov could come out on top against Matteo Berrettini in a thrilling encounter

The match at the Stuttgart Open could be one of the matches to look out for this season. However, with all the injuries that Matteo Berrettini has faced this season, he could be the second-best in this match and Denis Shapovalov could emerge victorious for the third consecutive time in the head-to-head stats.

But, with the skillset that the Italian possesses, he could still pose a serious threat to his opponent in a highly-anticipated encounter. With the stage all set, who will come out on top this time around? Whom are you backing in this match? Do let us know in the comments below!