Italy’s alpine ace wins second high-altitude title

Matteo Berrettini was proclaimed King of the Mountain on Saturday as the flatlander Italian won his second consecutive alpine ATP 250 title, defeating Hugo Gaston 7-5, 6-3 at Kitzbuehel.

Roman Berrettini, who moves back to 40th in the rankings after battling two seasons of injury and illness, added Austrian honours to the trophy he won six days ago in Gstaad. 

The win was his 10th in a row as he completed his back-to-back trophies without the loss of a set; he stands 15-1 on clay this season..

The 28-year-old becomes the fourth Italian to take the Kitz title after Adriano Panatta back in the day, followed by Andreas Seppi, Paolo Lorenzi and Berrettini.

Victory required less than 90 minutes and left 91st-ranked Frenchman Gaston momentarily in tears at the end.

Berrettini now owns 10 career titles – three this season – and is looking forward to some rest before travelling to North America in a week for the start of the hardcourt swing.

“I’m really tired and really happy,” the winner said. “I’ve played my best of the year these past two weeks.

‘Two weeks and two titles – better than that doin be tough.”

Gaston now stands nil-for two in ATP finals, after losing three years ago in Gstaad to Casper Ruud.

Berrettini becomes the first man since the Norwegian to win Gstaad and Kitzbuehel back to back in the same season.