LONDON (Reuters) – Italy’s Matteo Berrettini reached his fourth consecutive grasscourt final as he overpowered unseeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp at the Queen’s Club Championship on Saturday.
Friday’s sizzling heat had disappeared at the historic London venue, but defending champion Berrettini maintained his hot streak on the grass to win 6-4 6-3.
The second seed was briefly held up in the second set by a short rain delay, but he returned to break serve and cruised to victory, ending the contest with a neat drop volley.
World number 10 Berrettini, who reached the Wimbledon final last year, has now won 19 of his last 20 matches on grass.
His only loss in that spell was against Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final a year ago.
Berrettini was once again rock solid on his serve, dropping only four points on his first delivery.
Berrettini broke serve in a marathon sixth game and moved 5-2 ahead only to drop his own when serving for the set. He responded in style ,though, breaking again to pocket the opener.
Van de Zandschulp never looked like turning it around as Berrettini remained clinical in the second set.
The 26-year-old Berrettini will face either twice Queen’s champion Marin Cilic or Filip Krajinovic in Sunday’s final.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)
