Matteo Berrettini

[Damian]

Wimby21: 5 Włoch w ćwierćfinale Wimbledonu od 1998 roku (De Morpurgo, Pietrangeli, Panatta, Sanguinetti)!

[7] Matteo Berrettini d. Ilja Iwaszka 6-4 6-3 6-1

[Damian]

Berrettini Extends Winning Streaks, Sails Into Wimbledon Quarter-finals

Spoiler:

Italian star to play Zverev or Auger-Aliassime on Wednesday

Away from the main show courts, Matteo Berrettini has quietly gone about his business over the past seven days and the cinch Championships titlist is now a Wimbledon quarter-finalist.

The seventh-seeded Italian extended his grass-court winning streak to nine matches on Monday, once again executing a strong service performance for a 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Ilya Ivashka of Belarus in one hour and 47 minutes on Court 12.

“I feel like I'm not using a lot of energy, because I won most of my matches in three sets,” said Berrettini. “It's really good for me if I look at the long run. I feel [that] I am playing the best tennis of my career.

“[Two years ago] I was playing [well], but everything was kind of new. I had to adjust a little bit. Now I have more confidence for sure, more experience as well. I know I can achieve my best results like quarters in Paris [at Roland Garros and] quarters here. Obviously, the tournament is not done yet. I'm really looking forward to achieving even more.”

On Wednesday, the level of scrutiny will increase when Berrettini plays fourth-seeded German Alexander Zverev or 16th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada at the All England Club.

You May Also Like: Sonego Dreaming Of Turin Ahead Of Federer Clash
But the 25-year-old, who is in a strong position to once again qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held from 13-19 November in Turin, is more than used to being in the spotlight. Berrettini has won 30 of 35 matches this year, including his fifth ATP Tour title at the Serbia Open (d. Karatsev) and a runner-up finish in his first ATP Masters 1000 final at the Mutua Madrid Open (l. to Zverev).

He is the fifth Italian man to have reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals, after Uberto De Morpurgo (1928), Nicola Pietrangeli (1955, 1960), Adriano Panatta (1979) and Davide Sanguinetti (1998).

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Once Berrettini came through a 12-point hold for a 3-1 lead in the first set, which lasted 37 minutes, it was relatively smooth sailing against Ivashka, who broke just once at 2-5 in the second set. World No. 9 Berrettini won 12 of the first 14 points for a 3-0 lead in the third set and completed his 30th match win of the season having won 32 of 38 first-service points.

“I'm pretty happy with my level, for the intensity, for my mindset over all the games and stuff,” said Berrettini. “I was pretty focused. [But] I had a game that I didn't serve that well on [at] 5-2 in the second [set].”

Berrettini will now prepare to snap a two-match losing streak against Zverev, who leads 3-1 in their ATP Head2Head series, or a 1-0 advantage over Auger-Aliassime. Berrettini beat the #NextGenATP star in the 2019 MercedesCup final on Stuttgart’s grass.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/berrett ... 021-monday

[Damian]

Berrettini riding wave of Italian resurgence

Spoiler:

World No.9 Matteo Berrettini is playing his best tennis and proud of his place in his country's sporting history READ MORE
BY REEM ABULLEIL
SOCIAL
It’s shaping up to be a huge summer for Italian sport and Matteo Berrettini is proud to play a part in his nation’s resurgence on the big stage.

In football, after missing out on World Cup qualification three years ago, the Azzurri are through to the semi-finals of the Euros by picking up a 13th consecutive win and extending their unbeaten run to 32 matches. They will take on Spain for a place in the final on Tuesday.

On Sunday night, Italy’s men’s basketball team secured their spot at the Olympic Games for the first time since 2004 with victory over Serbia in the qualifying tournament held in Belgrade.

I FEEL I AM PLAYING FOR SURE THE BEST TENNIS OF MY CAREER

MATTEO BERRETTINI: FOURTH ROUND BEST POINTS
Buoyed by his compatriots’ performances, Berrettini punched his ticket to the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time with a dominant 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 success over Belarus’ Ilya Ivashka on Monday to stretch his own winning streak to nine matches and remain undefeated on grass this season.

I REPOSTED A POST FROM OUR PRESIDENT OF THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE; HE SAID WE HAVE A RECORD NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES. IT'S SOMETHING THAT MAKES ME PROUD BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THEM. IT'S REALLY A GREAT MOMENT FOR SPORT IN ITALY
“I really like those two sports [football and basketball]. I think overall we're achieving great results, all the sports. I reposted a post from our president of the Olympic Committee; he said we have a record number of participants in the Olympic Games. It's something that makes me proud because I'm one of them. It's really a great moment for sport in Italy,” said the 25-year-old.

Berrettini came into the Championships on the heels of a title triumph at Queen's, where he lifted the first ATP 500 trophy of his career. He has scooped 22 of the 24 sets he played during his nine-match winning streak and is through to the quarter-finals for a second consecutive Grand Slam.

The world No.9 enjoyed his first Grand Slam breakthrough when he reached the fourth round at Wimbledon two years ago. He recorded his best result at a major to date a few weeks later when he made the US Open semi-finals and he has now made the fourth round or better at six of his last eight Grand Slams.


SECOND FAVOURITE?
He is displaying a great deal of comfort and ease while under pressure these past few weeks and is considered by many as the second favourite for the Wimbledon crown behind five-time champion Novak Djokovic.

“I feel I am playing for sure the best tennis of my career,” stated Berrettini on what was, for him, a not so Manic Monday.

“2019 I was playing good, but everything was kind of new. I had to adjust a little bit. Now I have more confidence for sure, more experience as well. I know I can achieve my best results like I'm doing quarters in Paris, quarters here. Obviously the tournament is not done yet. I'm really looking forward to achieving even more.”

OBVIOUSLY THE TOURNAMENT IS NOT DONE YET. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO ACHIEVING EVEN MORE
Up next for Berrettini is his good friend and No.16 Felix Auger-Aliassime or German No.4 seed Alexander Zverev.

Berrettini’s biggest weapons are his serve and his forehand and his stats so far this Fortnight provide ample proof of that. The Italian tops the ace leaderboard for The Championships so far, with 67 struck through his four matches.

He has held serve in 59 of his 61 service games and has won 83 per cent of his first serve points and 65 per cent of his second serve points. Of the 161 winners he has unleashed so far, 54 came off the forehand side. His huge serve and forehand have allowed him to come into the net 85 times and he’s been successful in 72 per cent of his net points.

67
ACES SO FAR IN THE CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR BERRETTINI
Berrettini is the first Italian man to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals since Davide Sanguinetti in 1998 and he is one of a strong group of players from his country causing a stir on the ATP tour. There are 10 Italian men in the top 100, three of which are inside the top 30.

The Rome native paid tribute to Italy’s golden generation of WTA players, like 2015 US Open champion Flavia Pennetta, 2010 Roland-Garros winner Francesca Schiavone, and Grand Slam finalists Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani, who all played a part in inspiring this current crop of Italian men.

“I remember watching them. I remember I was playing I think a future in Antalya in 2015 when Roberta and Flavia, they reached the final in the US Open. It was such a great moment for all of us,” Berrettini recalls.

“I think when you're playing tennis, it doesn't matter if it's a girl or a guy, you just follow. You just cheer for them. I met Flavia a really long time ago when I used to practise in Rome.

“They always kind of helped me because they were looking at me like the young one. Overall we have a great relationship. Also with Francesca Schiavone. I saw her in Madrid, then in Rome. She's still talking to my coach. We text a little bit. It's really nice.”


WITH COMPATRIO LORENZO SONEGO
Berrettini recalls hitting with the now-retired Pennetta when he was 16 years old and said he gained more belief in himself from seeing his countrywomen achieve such great results.

“They helped us by showing us that everything is possible because they showed us that four players of the same generation, they were top seven I think. Seven, six, five, and four. They reached finals in slams. They won slams, 1000s. They showed us the things that they achieved we could think about achieving them.”

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[Damian]

[Damian]

From The Court To The Crowd: An Extra-Special Day For Berettini & Tomljanovic

Spoiler:

Berrettini and Tomljanovic are both into the last eight at Wimbledon
Manic Monday was special for Matteo Berrettini, and not just because he reached his first Wimbledon quarter-final. The Italian was later able to watch from the player’s box on No. 1 Court as his girlfriend, WTA star Ajla Tomljanovic, advanced to the last eight of a major for the first time.

“The fact that she’s also in the quarter-finals is just crazy. It’s not easy for a couple like us to make these results,” Berrettini told ATPTour.com. “I’m so proud of her the way she’s handling everything. Today obviously wasn’t the best way to end the match. But she was there, the atmosphere before the injury was great. I think she deserves it and I’m really happy for her. Now it’s time to think about the quarter-finals.

“She’s going to play tomorrow, I’m going to play on Wednesday. But so far, it’s been the best Grand Slam that we’ve played together.”

You May Also Like: Tomljanovic On Berrettini: His Game Is Great, His Mental Side Is Even Better
Tomljanovic will next face fellow Aussie Ashleigh Barty, the top seed, in an attempt to reach her maiden major semi-final. This is Berrettini’s second consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final and his third overall. In 2019, he reached the semi-finals at the US Open. So far this fortnight, the Italian has lost just one set.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling for myself. I never reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon,” Berrettini said. “Being able to do it like this, it obviously gives me a lot of confidence to go forward in the tournament.”


It has been a memorable tournament for Berrettini and Tomljanovic as a couple, but it does not end there. The Italian will next play good friend Felix Auger-Aliassime for a spot in the semi-finals at the All England Club. Felix’s girlfriend is Tomljanovic’s cousin, and the quartet forms a small family on tour. According to the Aussie, they are all enjoying this moment.

“After we won, all three of us passed each other in the hallway. I was so happy for him because how he goes about the sport is unbelievable. He wants it so much. He loves everything about it. To see him do well, it makes me so happy,” Tomljanovic said of Auger-Aliassime. “I gave him a fist pump, like, ‘Yay, Felix.’ I think they actually also hugged. I'm happy one of them will be through on Wednesday.

“If he had lost today, that would have sucked more. Of course, I'd rather see them in the final, but I think it's unbelievable that one of them will be in the semis.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/berrett ... qf-feature

[Damian]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Wimby21: Pierwszy półfinał na Wimbledonie!

[7] Matteo Berrettini d. [16] Felix Auger-Aliassime 63 57 75 63

[Barty]

[Barty]

Wimbledon: Hubert Hurkacz poznał rywala w pojedynku o finał. Włoch jest niepokonany w tym roku na trawie!

Spoiler:

Hubert Hurkacz wie już, z kim rozegra mecz o premierowy wielkoszlemowy finał. Przeciwnikiem naszego reprezentanta został tenisista, który w tym roku legitymuje się perfekcyjnym bilansem na trawie.
Rafał Smoliński

Po wielkim zwycięstwie Huberta Hurkacza nad Rogerem Federerem fani tenisa w Polsce oczekiwali na kolejnego rywala Polaka. Został nim rozstawiony z siódmym numerem Matteo Berrettini (ATP 9), który po czterosetowym boju na korcie numer 1 pokonał Feliksa Augera-Aliassime'a (ATP 19).
W 2019 roku Berrettini i Auger-Aliassime spotkali się w finale zawodów ATP 250 na kortach trawiastych w Stuttgarcie. Wtedy reprezentant Italii zwyciężył 6:4, 7:6(11) i sięgnął po tytuł. Po dwóch latach panowie znów zmierzyli się ze sobą na europejskiej trawie, ale tym razem stawką ich pojedynku był premierowy półfinał Wimbledonu.

25-letni Berrettini poznał już smak gry w wielkoszlemowym półfinale. W sezonie 2019 dotarł do tej fazy na kortach twardych US Open. W Nowym Jorku lepszy od reprezentanta Italii okazał się Hiszpan Rafael Nadal. W środę Berrettini został drugim włoskim półfinalistą w historii Wimbledonu. Pierwszym był w 1960 roku Nicola Pietrangeli.

20-letni Auger-Aliassime walczył o największy sukces na wielkoszlemowych arenach. Pokonując Alexandra Zvereva po pięciosetowym boju, osiągnął premierowy ćwierćfinał w Wielkim Szlemie. Teraz jednak chciał zostać czwartym Kanadyjczykiem, który dotarł do półfinału Wimbledonu. Wcześniej dokonali tego Robert Powell (1908), Milos Raonić (2016) oraz Denis Shapovalov (2021), który w środowe popołudnie pokonał na korcie 1 Karena Chaczanowa. Nie poszedł jednak w ślady rodaka.

Po trzech godzinach Berrettini wygrał z Augerem-Aliassime'em 6:3, 5:7, 7:5, 6:3 i awansował do półfinału Wimbledonu 2021. Włoch będzie w piątek przeciwnikiem Hurkacza. Jeśli chodzi o rywalizację Polaka i reprezentanta Italii na zawodowych kortach, to ich bilans jest remisowy i wynosi 1-1. W 2018 roku Berrettini był lepszy w II rundzie eliminacji do Australian Open (7:6, 6:3). W sezonie 2019 "Hubi" wziął w I rundzie prestiżowej imprezy Miami Open (6:4, 6:3).


Berrettini jest ostatnio w doskonałej formie. Parę tygodni temu wygrał zawody ATP 500 na trawnikach londyńskiego Queen's Clubu. Włoch legitymuje się w tym roku perfekcyjnym bilansem 10-0 na europejskiej trawie. Na pewno będzie groźnym rywalem dla Polaka.

The Championships, Wimbledon (Wielka Brytania)
Wielki Szlem, kort trawiasty, pula nagród 35 mln funtów
środa, 7 lipca

ćwierćfinał gry pojedynczej:

Matteo Berrettini (Włochy, 7) - Felix Auger-Aliassime (Kanada, 16) 6:3, 5:7, 7:5, 6:3

https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/tenis/94817 ... niepokonan

[Barty]

More Italian joy from Berrettini

Spoiler:

No.7 seed beats close friend Auger-Aliassime to reach second Grand Slam semi-final

Less than 24 hours after Italy’s men’s football team advanced to the final of the Euros, Matteo Berrettini gave his home fans more reason to celebrate as he downed No.16 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time in his career.

The 25-year-old Berrettini became just the second Italian man to make the final four at The Championships, following in the footsteps of Nicola Pietrangeli, who achieved that feat in 1960.

“Everything is crazy right now,” said an out-of-breath Berrettini on court. “Thanks to Felix, I think we made a great match. I hope you guys enjoyed it. He’s probably one of my best friends on tour so it’s never easy to play against him. But that’s sport and I’m really happy.

“In Australia, when we did the quarantine, we practised for two weeks together, so we know each other pretty well. Today was really tricky. Good luck for him, but now I’m happy for me.”

The No.7 seed spoilt what would have been a Canadian party as Auger-Aliassime was attempting to catch up with his countryman Denis Shapovalov and make it two Canadian men in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Undefeated on grass this season, Berrettini extended his current winning streak to 10 and will next take on Polish No.14 seed Hubert Hurkacz, who knocked out Roger Federer on Centre Court.

Berrettini and Auger-Aliassime are close friends and spend a significant amount of time together socially because their respective girlfriends are cousins. Through the first week of the Championships, Auger-Aliassime, Berrettini, and his girlfriend Ajla Tomljanovic, were all scheduled to play on the same day and it was a triple celebration in each round until Tomljanovic fell to Ashleigh Barty in the quarter-finals.

“I'm happy one of them will be through on Wednesday,” Tomljanovic said ahead of this showdown.

The 20-year-old Auger-Aliassime had won his last three matches against top-10 opposition – including against Roger Federer in Halle – and was contesting his first Grand Slam quarter-final, on just his second main draw appearance at the All England Club.

Berrettini enjoyed his best result at a slam when he reached the semi-finals at the US Open in 2019, and he was playing his second consecutive major quarter-final, having made the last eight at Roland-Garros.

EVERYTHING IS CRAZY RIGHT NOW. FELIX IS PROBABLY ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS ON TOUR SO IT’S NEVER EASY TO PLAY AGAINST HIM

Both players arrived to SW19 with some impressive performances on the grass under their belts. Berrettini won the biggest title of his career at Queen’s while Auger-Aliassime was a finalist on the lawns of Stuttgart and a semi-finalist in Halle.

Berrettini pounced early, breaking in game three, then doubled his advantage to carve a 5-1 opening. Auger-Aliassime launched a brief comeback, taking the next two games, but Berrettini still grabbed the set when a volley from his opponent landed in the net.

The Italian came up with huge serves to save a pair of break points early in the second set but Auger-Aliassime still managed to break, sending Berrettini wide with perfectly-angled groundstrokes that drew the error.


Berrettini erased a 1-3 deficit but still couldn’t find the form that enabled him to dominate in the opening set. He faltered at the net to surrender a break in the 11th game and Auger-Aliassime levelled the contest with his seventh ace.

The third set was a tight affair until Berrettini found a tiny window in the 12th game, peppering Auger-Aliassime with his monster forehand to break and take a two sets to one lead.

The Canadian realised he wasn’t going to beat Berrettini from the back of the court, but when he tried to mix it up and approach the net, the strategy did not pay off as he quickly fell behind 0-3 in the fourth. That one break of serve was all Berrettini needed to scoop a three-hour victory and secure a place in the final four.

“For sure it’s going to be the first time for both of us on grass at Wimbledon. Hubert is having a great season, he won Miami, he’s playing good, beating Federer in straight sets means he’s playing well, but I feel ready, I’m feeling confident,” he said.

https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/ar ... ttini.html

[Barty]

More Italian joy from Berrettini

Spoiler:

No.7 seed beats close friend Auger-Aliassime to reach second Grand Slam semi-final

Less than 24 hours after Italy’s men’s football team advanced to the final of the Euros, Matteo Berrettini gave his home fans more reason to celebrate as he downed No.16 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time in his career.

The 25-year-old Berrettini became just the second Italian man to make the final four at The Championships, following in the footsteps of Nicola Pietrangeli, who achieved that feat in 1960.

“Everything is crazy right now,” said an out-of-breath Berrettini on court. “Thanks to Felix, I think we made a great match. I hope you guys enjoyed it. He’s probably one of my best friends on tour so it’s never easy to play against him. But that’s sport and I’m really happy.

“In Australia, when we did the quarantine, we practised for two weeks together, so we know each other pretty well. Today was really tricky. Good luck for him, but now I’m happy for me.”

The No.7 seed spoilt what would have been a Canadian party as Auger-Aliassime was attempting to catch up with his countryman Denis Shapovalov and make it two Canadian men in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Undefeated on grass this season, Berrettini extended his current winning streak to 10 and will next take on Polish No.14 seed Hubert Hurkacz, who knocked out Roger Federer on Centre Court.

Berrettini and Auger-Aliassime are close friends and spend a significant amount of time together socially because their respective girlfriends are cousins. Through the first week of the Championships, Auger-Aliassime, Berrettini, and his girlfriend Ajla Tomljanovic, were all scheduled to play on the same day and it was a triple celebration in each round until Tomljanovic fell to Ashleigh Barty in the quarter-finals.

“I'm happy one of them will be through on Wednesday,” Tomljanovic said ahead of this showdown.

The 20-year-old Auger-Aliassime had won his last three matches against top-10 opposition – including against Roger Federer in Halle – and was contesting his first Grand Slam quarter-final, on just his second main draw appearance at the All England Club.

Berrettini enjoyed his best result at a slam when he reached the semi-finals at the US Open in 2019, and he was playing his second consecutive major quarter-final, having made the last eight at Roland-Garros.

EVERYTHING IS CRAZY RIGHT NOW. FELIX IS PROBABLY ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS ON TOUR SO IT’S NEVER EASY TO PLAY AGAINST HIM

Both players arrived to SW19 with some impressive performances on the grass under their belts. Berrettini won the biggest title of his career at Queen’s while Auger-Aliassime was a finalist on the lawns of Stuttgart and a semi-finalist in Halle.

Berrettini pounced early, breaking in game three, then doubled his advantage to carve a 5-1 opening. Auger-Aliassime launched a brief comeback, taking the next two games, but Berrettini still grabbed the set when a volley from his opponent landed in the net.

The Italian came up with huge serves to save a pair of break points early in the second set but Auger-Aliassime still managed to break, sending Berrettini wide with perfectly-angled groundstrokes that drew the error.


Berrettini erased a 1-3 deficit but still couldn’t find the form that enabled him to dominate in the opening set. He faltered at the net to surrender a break in the 11th game and Auger-Aliassime levelled the contest with his seventh ace.

The third set was a tight affair until Berrettini found a tiny window in the 12th game, peppering Auger-Aliassime with his monster forehand to break and take a two sets to one lead.

The Canadian realised he wasn’t going to beat Berrettini from the back of the court, but when he tried to mix it up and approach the net, the strategy did not pay off as he quickly fell behind 0-3 in the fourth. That one break of serve was all Berrettini needed to scoop a three-hour victory and secure a place in the final four.

“For sure it’s going to be the first time for both of us on grass at Wimbledon. Hubert is having a great season, he won Miami, he’s playing good, beating Federer in straight sets means he’s playing well, but I feel ready, I’m feeling confident,” he said.

https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/ar ... ttini.html

[Damian]

Berrettini Beats Felix To Make Italian History

Spoiler:

The seventh seed is the first Italian man to reach the QFs here in the Open Era
Sometimes a friend is the toughest foe, but Matteo Berrettini did not mind on Wednesday. The Italian star beat close mate Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 to reach his first Wimbledon semi-final.

The seventh seed is the first man from his country in the Open Era to make the last four at The Championships. The only other Italian man in history to accomplish the feat was Nicola Pietrangeli in 1960.

“Everything is crazy right now. Thanks to Felix, I think we made a great match and I hope you guys enjoyed it," Berrettini said in his on-court interview. "He’s probably one of my best friends on tour, so it’s never easy to play against him. But that’s sport and I’m really happy.”


There will be a first-time Grand Slam finalist on the bottom half of the draw, as Berrettini will play Miami champion Hubert Hurkacz, who upset eight-time champion Roger Federer, for a spot in the championship match. The Polish No. 1 won their only tour-level meeting in Miami two years ago.

“Hubert is having a great season. He won Miami, he is playing good. Beating Federer in three sets means that he’s playing well,” Berrettini said. “But I feel ready, I’m feeling confident. Good luck to him, and let’s see.”

Berrettini broke onto the scene by making the semi-finals at the 2019 US Open. But this time, he is already an established Top 10 star, and the World No. 9 arrived at the All England Club with plenty of momentum. After reaching the Roland Garros quarter-finals, Berrettini won the biggest title of his career — and his second tour-level trophy on grass — at the cinch Championships.


It was a tight back-and-forth clash against Auger-Aliassime, but Berrettini showed just a bit more consistency and firepower to claw past the Canadian after three hours and three minutes. Berrettini is the sixth Italian man to make multiple Grand Slam semi-finals. He now owns a 23-5 tour-level record on grass.

“I think we know each other pretty well. We played just once in a tournament on grass two years ago, but for sure he improved, I improved," Berrettini said. "Today was really tricky. It’s always special to play on such a nice court, so it was really difficult. Good luck to him, but now I’m happy for myself.”

This was the pair’s second ATP Head2Head clash, with both coming on this surface. Two years ago, Berrettini beat Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-6(11) in the Stuttgart final, and he picked up where he left off in their budding rivalry on Wednesday. Early on, it appeared that the match would be in Berrettini’s control as he stormed to a 5-1 lead, breaking in just his second return game of the match when the Canadian missed a backhand long.

But the 25-year-old needed seven set points to clinch the opening set, and that was a sign of the fight to come. Auger-Aliassime, competing in his first major quarter-final, remained calm and continued going after his shots to keep it close. After exchanging breaks earlier in the second set, the 16th seed got the decisive break at 5-5 when the Italian missed a backhand slice approach into the net, and he then emphatically held to love to level the match.

You May Also Like: The Last Time… With Matteo Berrettini
Both men wanted to take the first big cut in rallies, and that at times led to plenty of unforced errors. But in key moments, Berrettini got more out of his first serve and was able to find himself in more favourable positions during points.

The seventh seed broke to win the third set, and then earned his sixth service break early in the fourth. From there, he was able to ride his serve to victory.

“I’m really trying to win every match that I play. Every match is different, so it depends on the opponent," Berrettini said. "I think Felix today was playing for some parts of the match better than me. But I was just there, I asked myself to be tough and I didn’t care about the level. I just cared about the win.”

If Auger-Aliassime had advanced to the semi-finals, he would have joined countryman Denis Shapovalov in the last four. If that happened, it would have been the first time that two Canadian men made the semi-finals at a Grand Slam. Shapovalov will play World No. 1 Novak Djokovic next.

Did You Know?
Berrettini is now 10-0 this grass-court season, and he is 11-1 in Grand Slams this year. The Italian's only loss at a major in 2021 came against Djokovic at Roland Garros. At the Australian Open, he gave a walkover to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round due to injury.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/berrett ... on-2021-qf

[Damian]

The Last Time… With Matteo Berrettini

Spoiler:

The Italian reveals the last time he cooked for others and more...
Editor's Note: This feature was originally published on 25 April 2021.

Matteo Berrettini has enjoyed a resurgence of form after dealing with an abdominal injury earlier in the year. The powerful right-hander blasted his way to the Belgrade title, reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Madrid, triumphed at The Queen's Club and is not into his first Wimbledon semi-final.

ATPTour.com caught up with the Italian to learn the last time...

I missed a flight?
I have never missed a flight before, but I’ve been close and I’m grateful to be a good runner!

I lost something important?
Two or three weeks ago I left my phone in a taxi and I had to call different taxi companies to locate it. I gave them a description of the taxi and thankfully they found the driver and brought it back.

I paid for a court or bought my own tennis balls?
I think I was in Boca Raton a few weeks ago and I bought some tennis balls, around $5 per tube. I didn’t pay for the court.


Being famous or recognised helped?
With COVID and stuff it’s not easy to go anywhere. But there was one time, a long time ago, I was with a friend in a queue and the security guard recognised me, so [they] let us in quicker.

I strung my own tennis racquet?
I used to string my racquets all the time when I was in Rome growing up. It wasn’t cheap to string racquets, so I bought a stringing machine. I probably last strung a racquet a few weeks ago, when I was in Rome. It doesn’t take me long. I’m not professional, but I would definitely be confident to use the racquet in a match.

I cooked for myself or others?
I normally do when I am in Monaco with my girlfriend [WTA player Ajla Tomljanovic], cooking pasta with cheese. It’s amazing and next time we’re together, I’ll cook it for her.


I met my childhood idol?
It was a long time ago. I think the first time I hit with Roger [Federer], in 2015, was a big thing for me. I was so nervous and shaking. I was sweating so much before we started hitting. That's a great memory.

I last took a selfie photo?
I’m not a fan of a selfie, so I wouldn’t ask my idol for a photo. After the 2019 US Open, when I reached the semi-finals, this Roman actor, Carlo Verdone, who is really famous in Italy, came to watch my practice. I was about to ask him for a selfie, but he asked me first. That was cool.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/last-ti ... april-2021

[Barty]

Berrettini: This run isn't over

Spoiler:

Italian No.7 seed says his success in reaching the semi-finals has not surprised him

The Matteo Berrettini bulldozer continues to demolish everything in its path and on quarter-finals day it was his good friend, the young Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who was made to suffer on No.1 Court.

The Italian’s 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 success was his 10th consecutive grass court win and his 23rd victory in his last 26 completed matches. It earns the 25-year-old his second Grand Slam semi-final and his first at Wimbledon against Roger Federer’s conqueror - Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz - on Friday.

“I'm extremely happy for my win,” said the world No.9, who is the second Italian man in history to reach the semi-finals at the Championships and the first in the Open era.

“[I’m happy] for the fact that I'm through to the semis for the first time here in Wimby, for the fact that I really played a tough match, because I wasn't feeling, unbelievable good, especially after the first set.”

In hindsight, the tailend of a tight third set was where the match turned in Berrettini’s favour and once he’d edged a two sets to one advantage and had quickly built a 3-0 lead in the fourth he always looked the more likely winner.

Comparing his achievement to his first major semi-final in New York in 2019, the 6ft 5in Roman said that his form going into Wimbledon - he won his first ATP 500 title on grass at Queen’s prior to The Championships - meant his expectations were higher this time around.

“Stepping in this tournament, I knew that I could do it,” Berrettini said of his journey to the last four. “I know that also the run is not over. So it's different [to the US Open].

“Before this tournament I just felt that I'm a better player now. I have more experience. I had more matches on my shoulders. Everything that I am achieving, it's great, but it's not something that I didn't expect.”

The Italian revealed he’d spent the previous evening with his quarter-final opponent watching Italy’s narrow victory over Spain in the first semi-final of Euro 2020.

“It was such a nice time with Felix,” he said of his friendship with the world No.19 from Montreal. “I think it's so great to have such a relationship, and then we can just play our best during the match and respect each other.

“Also hanging out outside of the court is something that it's not that common and I really appreciate the fact that it's happening. Best of luck for him."

Many studying the bottom half of the draw might have predicted a Berrettini-Federer semi-final but instead the No.7 seed will face Hurkacz with both battling to reach a first Grand Slam final.

“Playing Hubert is going to be really tough. He beat Daniil [Medvedev], beat Roger in a row, and he's feeling good. He's having a great season so far, so it's gonna be tough one.”

https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/ar ... _over.html

[Barty]

[Barty]

Berrettini bidding to bring it home for Rome

Spoiler:

With Italy into the Euro finals at Wembley on Sunday, Matteo Berrettini is bidding to fulfil Italian dreams on the other side of London

As Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri concoct a cunning plan to break English hearts at the final football hurdle on home soil, another of their brethren is putting his best foot forward to keep winning them over in south-west London.

Less than a day after the Italians upheld their end of the bargain to win their Euro 2020 semi-final, Matteo Berrettini booked his maiden appearance in the last four at Wimbledon.

Bel Paese’s wait for a major football trophy may only extend back as far as the 2006 World Cup, and in tennis to Flavia Pennetta’s 2015 US Open triumph.

10 MATCH WINNING STREAK ON GRASS
Beyond the women carrying the flag on the Grand Slam stages, however, the drought is a little more persistent for the men.

Berrettini is the first Italian man to reach this far at The Championships since Nicola Pietrangeli in 1960 and two victories from following in the footsteps of Adriano Panatta at Roland-Garros 44 years ago as a Grand Slam champion.

Currently riding a 10-match winning streak on grass, having claimed his first ATP 500 title at The Queen’s Club leading in, Berrettini has only lost two of his past 24 matches on the surface. But his scorching streak was not limited to the lawns of London.

BERRETTINI IS THE FIRST ITALIAN MAN TO REACH THIS STAGE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS SINCE NICOLA PIETRANGELI IN 1960
The 25-year-old has claimed 23 of his past 26 matches, adding a title in Belgrade, a first Masters 1000 final in Madrid and a maiden Roland-Garros quarter-final – all on clay.

It has been quite the run, considering the uncertainty that shrouded the start of his season.

After reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open he handed Stefanos Tsitsipas a walkover due to an abdominal injury.

Two months later, in only his second singles outing since the injury, Berrettini landed that trophy at the Serbia Open.

“I proved to myself that I can fight and I can digest tough situations,” Berrettini said after his triumph. “I'm able to handle really tough moments.

“There are moments that all athletes in general have, but I really put myself in the struggle without any fear. I came back stronger.”

Having seen off his good friend, No.16 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, in the last eight, the opening in the draw was huge.

Where No.2 seed Daniil Medvedev or No.6 seed and eight-time champion Roger Federer were projected to advance from the bottom quarter, their tormentor, Poland’s No.24 seed Hubert Hurkacz, now lay in wait.


WIN AGAINST GOOD FRIEND FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME
As the No.7 seed, Berrettini is widely favoured to seize that opportunity. He considered the experience invaluable of having faced Rafael Nadal in his maiden Grand Slam semi-final in New York in 2019.

“It's been two years since I was in my first semis, so now it's time to cheer a little bit,” he said. “I would say that it's different, but at the same time it's great.

“Obviously US Open I didn't know before the tournament that I could achieve that. I just played match after match, and I found myself in the semis.

“I mean, playing good, fighting like I'm doing now, but it was more unexpected. Now, stepping in this tournament, I knew that I could do it. I know that also the run is not over. So it's different.”


As the flagbearer for 10 Italian men in the top 100, including three in the top 30, Berrettini would be forgiven for failing to join his compatriots to catch the Italian football team's attempt to land a first Euro trophy since 1968.

That showdown against England comes only hours after the scheduled start of the gentlemen’s singles final.

“I think it's really nice to watch the matches. Since I was a kid, I was watching the Nazionale, the Italian team, the football team. It's something that unify us like nothing... I wish, and I think eventually also for tennis it's going to be like this because there are so many guys,” he said. “We are achieving great results. I think we're bringing tennis also [into] Italian houses, which is great.”


FLYING THE FLAG FOR HIS COMPATRIOTS
If any motivation was needed ahead of tackling the seed-slaying Hurkacz, Berrettini might do well to replay Mancini’s post-match comments, following his side’s defeat of Spain.

“Almost no one believed we could do it, and yet we are into the final,” Mancini said. “There are games where you have to suffer.”

Berrettini stands ready to again thrust himself into the struggle without any fear. He and the Azzurri are still a few sizeable steps from completing the Super Sunday double. That won’t hold back Italian fans from Wimbledon to Wembley, though, warming up their chant: “It's coming home to Rome.”

https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/ar ... _rome.html

[Damian]

[Damian]

[Damian]