Brilliant Berrettini downs Ruud

Matteo Berrettini beat world No. 3 Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 to send Italy past Norway into the Brisbane City Final of the United Cup on Tuesday.

The win gave Italy a 3-0 lead over Norway, leaving them top of Group E. They will face either Poland or Switzerland tomorrow.

Berrettini was the strongest of the two, winning the match in an hour and 26 minutes.

“He’s improved so much in the last year so I knew that I had to serve my best,” Berrettini said.

“We know each other pretty well so I knew I had to serve like that, but it’s one thing knowing I had to and one thing doing it.”

In Perth, Maria Sakkari’s win helped send Greece through to that city final when she downed Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6-1, 7-5.

Greece went into the match needing to either win the tie or lose 3-2 to progress to the city final against either Croatia or France.

“I knew the match would be critical, so I was nervous, especially against a world-class player like Elise,” Sakkari said.

“When you play a regular tournament and you lose, it’s just for yourself, but I wanted to win today for the team more than myself.

“It means a lot to play for your country.”

In Sydney, Jessica Pegula of the United States defeated Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-3, 6-2 and Frances Tiafoe beat Oscar Otte 7-5, 6-4 to give the Americans a 4-0 win over Germany.

The US will play Great Britain in the Sydney decider.