By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday July 3, 2024
It takes so much to knock Matteo Berrettini out of Wimbledon. How powerful? Since 2019, he has solely been defeated by gamers ranked No.1 (thrice) or No.2 (as soon as) within the ATP rankings.
Second-ranked Roger Federer within the spherical of 16 in 2019; No.1 Novak Djokovic within the 2021 last; No.1 Carlos Alcaraz within the third spherical final 12 months, and No.1 Jannik Sinner right this moment.
The standard of his vanquishers was of no comfort to the 28-year-old Italian on Wednesday evening at Wimbledon nevertheless. He entered the draw unseeded, at No.59 on the planet, and drew the unfortunate straw within the second spherical, similar to he did final 12 months (ranked 38), when he drew Alcaraz within the third spherical.
These Two 🫶
Nothing however respect after leaving all of it out on the courtroom 🇮🇹@janniksin @MattBerrettini #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/CPBa0Xw6IL
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 3, 2024
“It is all the time powerful to be constructive after moments like this,” Berrettini mentioned after falling to Sinner, 7-6, 7-6, 2-6, 7-6 on Centre Courtroom. “I feel I performed an important match in opposition to the No. 1 on the planet, and I had many probabilities. So I assume what I’ve to take from this match is that the extent is there, which is one thing that I additionally all the time believed, however till you actually show your self, it is powerful to really feel it, I assume.”
Berrettini was spectacular all through the competition, and it was straightforward to see that he’s one of many high ten grass-courters on the planet (as his 41-11 total file on the surfaces attests), and mayb e increased. That mentioned, the loss stings, and the frustration that comes with watching peak years disappear in a stream of powerful attracts and shut losses has not been straightforward on Berrettini.
The brilliant spot? Finally Berrettini is, lastly, well being.
“Through the match I believed in regards to the match, not about accidents, not about my physique, not about this stuff,” he mentioned. “On the finish it was a matter of what number of matches like this I performed within the final 12 months. I really feel clearly pleased with myself, however on the identical time clearly just a little bit unhappy for the outcome.”
