Frances Tiafoe and Matteo Berrettini battle on Wednesday in arguably the pick of the Vienna Open's second-round matches.
The 2021 runner-up in Austria defeated Briton Cameron Norrie in two sets to set up the round-two match with the 10-time ATP Tour winner.
Match preview
© Imago
Although Tiafoe expectedly got the better of Norrie in Tuesday's first-round match, the match probably will be remembered for another tirade directed at the umpire.
The American, who blew his top after losing to Roman Safiullin in Shanghai, was handed another time violation in his 6-4, 7-6 (4) triumph against the former No. 1 Briton, the fourth time he has received one in his past four matches.
The world No. 15, believing he is being singled out unfairly, demanded an explanation in his on-court interview after the victory, which has set up a third tour meeting with Berrettini.
While the three-time Tour-level champion benefitted from winning 82% of points on his first serve and an incredible 72% of seconds, Norrie's glut of unforced errors on his forehand wing and a seeming arm injury scuppered the British player's prospects.
© Imago
Tiafoe next battles Berrettini, who bids for a fourth title in 2024 after victories in Marrakech, Gstaad and Kitzbuhel, albeit coming on clay.
The Italian defeated Marton Fucsovics 7-5, 6-4 in Monday's round-one match, where he fired seven aces to the Hungarian's none.
Berrettini will hope to serve as cleanly as he did in that triumph when he plays Tiafoe in Wednesday's evening match.
Not only did the world No. 41 serve admirably to not double fault throughout, but he also prevented his opponent from generating a single break point and converted 50% of his four chances on Fucsovics's deliveries.
Keen to notch his fourth title of 2024 and a first-ever on hard courts, the 28-year-old player will back himself to edge past the American and advance to the quarter-final in Vienna.
Tournament so far
Frances Tiafoe:
First round: vs. Cameron Norrie 6-4 7-6 [4]
Matteo Berrettini:
First round: vs. Marton Fucsovics 7-5 6-4
Head To Head
Cincinnati Masters (2022) - Round of 64: Tiafoe 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6(5)
Rome Masters (2018) - Round of 64: Berrettini 6-3 7-6(1)
With both players previously claiming a win each in their head-to-head, either Tiafoe or Berrettini will take a 2-1 lead after Wednesday's events.
The Italian unsurprisingly notched a win in straight sets at the Rome Masters six years back on clay, but the 26-year-old got the better of the former Grand Slam finalist in three tight sets in Cincinnati two years ago.
We say: Berrettini to win in three sets
Although Berrettini played commendably at the Davis Cup in September, neither he nor Tiafoe have pulled up trees at recent tournaments, underscored by early eliminations. Wednesday's last-16 match could go either way, but we will back the Italian to edge it in three.
