MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 4, 2021

Matteo Berrettini

Press Conference

M. BERRETTINI/F. Fognini

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. When you're serving as well as you did today, how do you feel on court? How in control do you feel of things in those situations?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I mean, I feel, yeah, in control, but at the same time I really put a lot of effort and energy. I really try to focus a lot in order to serve like this.

So it's not something that is coming really easily, you know, like I have to focus and I have to, yeah, I guess just try really hard.

So when it's working like it was working today, I feel confident, but at the same time I ask myself to not get attention down, because just one game can change the whole match.

That's what I try to do, but I guess today worked pretty well.

Q. I wanted to ask you a Wimbledon question, please. I'm asking players for their favorite Wimbledon memories, and wonder if one of yours might be winning your first match when you beat Jack Sock or that long match against Schwartzman or playing Roger.

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, I have actually really good memories since juniors. I lost in juniors against Rublev, 14-12 in the third. I mean, it was tough one, but I think about that match in a nice way.

Yeah, I would say the one with Sock was great, but I think the one with Diego was better. Match points, yeah, five sets. The match with Roger always gonna bring it in my heart because that was the first time I was playing him on Centre Court, but the result wasn't the one I was looking for (smiling). I will take just the memory.

Q. Curious to see how you're feeling overall. It's such a difficult time for players to build momentum, and of course for you it was even more difficult because of the injury. How good does it feel for you to be rolling, to be confident? Where would you say your level is in terms of potential, and are you playing as good as you possibly can right now or do you still see room for improvement?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I always say that when you don't see room for improvement, then it would be like a bad day. I mean, I like to work every day to get better, and the day that I'm gonna see there is no room, then I will probably change something.

But, no, I'm pretty happy for my physical shape, for my mental performance so far, and the way I came back after a big injury. I think I'm playing good. I'm really feeling confident.

Like I said at the beginning of the week, these conditions I think are good for my tennis and I'm really -- you're right. It's tough to build the momentum in these conditions and it was tougher for me because I got injured, but I'm trying really hard. The results so far are pretty good.

Q. To piggyback on Paul's question about Wimbledon, I have a little project which talks about the players that dive on the Wimbledon grass. Wondering for you personally is that something you have ever done, or do you find it a little too scary given that it is a little bit of an injury risk?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I remember once I did it in practice in Wimby, and I think also a photographer took the moment and I posted on my Insta, but it never happened.

But I remember happened once when I play in Davis Cup in India. We played on grass, and I dive, I remember, and I actually played a great volley but the guy, it was too fast, so the guy couldn't even come back because the ball came back to him and he passed me. But it was a great shot. I mean, it's something that if it's happening, it would be nice.