“I don’t think about the pain or whether or not to play a match, but only about the pitch. It seems banal but given the last few years it isn’t like that for me, this is the best thing, I didn’t expect the final in Stuttgart where for practically one point I didn’t manage to take home the title, but it was a very good week.”
Matteo Berrettini shared his feelings in the press conference, after qualifying for the second round of the Halle Open following the victory over the young American Alex Michelsen. After a difficult start, the Italian found the key to the match and turned the match around. Now, in the next round, Berrettini will face another American; Marcos Giron, capable of surprising victory over Andrey Rublev in the first round.
“So much happiness to be back on the court, to have fun and not think about the pain. Different conditions here, I suffered in the first set but after that I won and therefore another battle tomorrow, which is what I wanted. In recent years I have felt a lot of support everywhere and in Italy everyone is interested in tennis, and that’s a great thing. Then obviously it means that I have done something good in recent years, I’m not talking about tennis but from a human and behavioral point of view and I’m happy for all of this,” said Berrettini after the match, as also reported by Sky Sport.
For Matteo Berrettini playing on grass is truly coming home; the Italian appeared satisfied both with the results and above all with the physical conditions. In recent months Matteo has played little due to physical problems and is now trying to react to the situation. The priority is to be in the best possible conditions ahead of Wimbledon, perhaps hoping for a not hellish draw. Matteo could be among the outsiders at Wimbledon given his favorite surface.