Former Masters 1000 champion Alexei Popyrin is gearing up for an exciting first-round matchup against former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini at the 2025 Vienna Open. This contest is particularly intriguing as both players have faced challenges in their recent performances heading into the tournament. Popyrin’s 2025 season has been tough, characterized by a losing record and only a few bright spots, including quarterfinal finishes in Monte-Carlo and Toronto. However, he has struggled to advance beyond the second round in 13 other events he’s participated in this year.
Matteo Berrettini, hampered by injuries, has managed to compete in only 30 matches this season. His notable performance came during the Miami Open, where he reached the quarterfinals but was ultimately defeated by Taylor Fritz in a competitive three-set match. Both athletes enter Vienna following their efforts in Stockholm, where Popyrin exited in the first round, and Berrettini’s result was slightly better, securing just one victory.
The match is scheduled to take place on October 22, 2025, at the Wiener Stadhalle, as part of the ATP 500 category, played on an indoor hard court. Fans can catch the match live on networks such as Tennis Channel, TSN, and Sky Sports.
In their previous encounters, Berrettini leads the head-to-head record 2-1 against Popyrin. His victories include two matches prior to Popyrin’s successful win at the 2024 Paris Masters, where he triumphed in straight sets. Popyrin has clinched two hard-court titles in his career, with notable achievements including his 2021 Singapore Open win and last year’s Masters 1000 title in Canada. In contrast, Berrettini’s hard-court success has been limited, having reached the final of the Tennis Napoli Cup in 2022 but not securing a title in that category.
Despite recent struggles, both athletes possess significant potential on the court. Berrettini’s powerful serve could prove advantageous on the indoor hard surface, although he will need to improve his return game, particularly in tiebreak situations. Popyrin, on the other hand, must aim to maintain a service point win rate of 70% or higher to enhance his chances against Berrettini, whose previous victories on this court may grant him a slight edge.
With anticipation building for this encounter, tennis fans are hopeful that both players can harness their strengths and turn their recent fortunes around in what promises to be a riveting match.