STUTTGART/STARNBERG, June 12, 2023

Matteo Berrettini from Italy, who has returned to the circuit from an abdominal muscle injury and competed in his first tournament since the Monte-Carlo Masters, lost his comeback match in the opening round of the BOSS Open in Stuttgart. The defending champion of the ATP 250 grass-court tournament lost to his compatriot Lorenzo Sonego 6-1, 6-2 on Monday.

Sonego withstood five aces, saved all six break points he faced and capitalized on four of his six own break-point chances to secure victory in one hour and 11 minutes.

“It’s tough,” said Sonego during his on-court interview when asked about Berrettini, who lifted the trophy on his previous Weissenhof appearances in 2019 and 2022. “I’m not happy because he’s my best friend on Tour and it’s tough to see him like that. I hope the best for him in the next tournament.

“Today I played my best tennis. This is my first tournament on grass, my first match, and I played really well. I’m really happy about that.”

World No. 41 Sonego will next take on the winner of the encounter between Christopher O’Connell of Australia and Germany’s Daniel Altmaier.

Lorenzo Musetti, another Italian in action, celebrated his first match win on grass. In his fifth attempt on this surface, the No. 6 seed beat qualifier Borna Gojo 7-6(4), 6-3. Musetti won 52 per cent of the total points played to advance in one hour and 29 minutes. Up next for 21-year-old Carrara native will be either local wild card entry Oscar Otte or Frenchman Gregoire Barrere.

Results of today 💯 pic.twitter.com/bouiSi1Yg8

— BOSS OPEN (@boss__open) June 12, 2023