Matteo Berrettini surges to Marrakech title for first ATP trophy in two years

For the first time in two years, Matteo Berrettini is a champion on the ATP Tour. The Italian surged to the singles crown at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech on Sunday, coming from a break down in the first set to defeat Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena, 7-5, 6-2.

The win, Berrettini's eighth ATP singles title and his first since winning on grass at the Queen's Club in 2022, is notable for the injury-plagued 27-year-old for many reasons.

The 2021 Wimbledon finalist and former world No. 6 was contesting just his second tour-level tournament of 2024 in Morocco, after a foot injury forced him out of the Australian Open in January. His six-month hiatus, since injuring his ankle at the US Open, ended at the Phoenix Challenger in Arizona last month, before he lost to Andy Murray in the first round of the Miami Open. Entered in Marrakech on a protected ranking, Berrettini beat three seeded players in five matches, including a quarterfinal win over his fellow Italian, Lorenzo Sonego, to advance to a title match for the first time since finishing runner-up in Naples two Octobers ago.

He also denied Carballes Baena a second straight title in Marrakech. Last year's champion was also unseeded this year, and beat No. 3 seed Dan Evans en route to the final.

A tight first set went Berrettini's way after nearly an hour, and after he trailed 3-1. The opener, in fact, looked on course for a tiebreak as Carballes Baena had a 0-40 lead on Berrettini's serve in the final game, but the Italian won five straight points to edge ahead. He's previously broken the Spaniard's serve from 40-15 at 5-5.

That momentum continued well into the second set: Berrettini won five straight games after Carballes Baena held at love to start, and he also saved two break points in the second game.

Berrettini will soar back into the Top 100 as a result of his victory. Currently ranked No. 135, he'll be back at No. 84 in the ATP rankings on Monday.

“I want to thank my team,” Berrettini said during his victory speech. “It’s been a tough past couple of years, I would say, and thanks to them I was able to overcome all the tough moments. My body wasn’t allowing me to play, so it’s thanks to [them] that I am here.

"All the people that made my comeback possible: all my friends, my family, people that were with me all the times when I was sad and injured, and I didn’t think I could make it ... thank you very much.”