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Berrettini leans on Italian greats for support at US Open
NEW YORK, Sept 3, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Matteo Berrettini says his close
relationship with two Italian tennis legends is supplying him with a healthy
dose of inspiration as he enters rare territory at the US Open.
Berrettini, 23, became just the second Italian man to progress to the US
Open quarter-finals on Monday, 42 years after Corrado Barazzutti’s run to the
last four in New York.
Berrettini, the 24th seed, eased to a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) win over
Russia’s 43rd-ranked Andrey Rublev to reach the last eight at a Grand Slam
for the first time.
“It’s something really crazy. I cannot believe it right now. I need a few
hours to understand what happened,” said Berrettini, who goes on to play
French 13th seed Gael Monfils.
“Corrado Barazzutti is the last one that did semi-final here, first one,
last one. He’s my Davis Cup captain. We’re talking every day. He’s helped me
a lot,” Berrettini said.
Barazzutti’s run to the semi-finals of the 1977 US Open, a tournament
played on clay, came a year after Adriano Panatta knocked out Bjorn Borg on
his way to capturing the French Open title.
Panatta was the only player to defeat Borg at Roland Garros, doing so on
two occasions.
“I’m coming from Rome, so Adriano Panatta is coming from there. He usually
text me a lot,” said a smiling Berrettini.
“I have to say he’s the first one that told me you’re going to serve like
220 kilometers per hour. I was 16 when I heard that. I was, like, ‘I don’t
know. If you say that, I’m going to trust you.’
“For me they’re guys that I have to look to. Tennis for sure is different
right now. But the mental part of tennis is the same. I’m looking those kind
of matches, those kind of mental toughness. Yeah, they’re really inspiring
me.”
Berrettini has gone one step further than at Wimbledon in July, where he
was beaten by Roger Federer in the last 16.
“I’m just happy. Seeing my team and family here and crying, for me it’s
unbelievable.”
The Italian overcame a momentary lapse against Rublev as he dropped serve
at 6-5 in the third set but sealed victory after two hours and 11 minutes in
a tense tie-break.
“I think I did an unbelievable match. I thought Andrey was playing really
good and playing with confidence,” Berrettini said.
“I was mixing my tennis, using the slice, forehand and serve. I think all
my weapons were really good today.”
BSS/AFP/AU/07:35 hrs