Berrettini upsets Zverev in 2nd round of Italian Open

Alexander Zverev's struggles on clay are continuing.

The fourth-seeded German fell 7-5, 7-5 to Italian wild card Matteo Berrettini in the second round of the Italian Open.

Zverev dropped to 5-6 on clay this season, including a pair of tournament-opening exits. That's a surprising decline in form for the World No. 5 player considering his strong performance on the surface in 2018.

Last year, Zverev won the Madrid Open, reached the final of the Italian Open, made the semifinals of the Monte-Carlo Masters, and advanced to his first career Grand Slam quarterfinal at the French Open.

Berrettini broke the 22-year-old's serve four times in eight opportunities and saved seven of nine break points for his first career top-10 victory.

Zverev had won their only previous meeting at last year's tournament.