ROLAND GARROS

June 3, 2021

Matteo Berrettini

Press Conference

M. BERRETTINI/F. Coria

6-3, 6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Did you expect today to be such a one-sided match? If not, what is it that had you playing at such a high level today?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I mean, I knew that I could beat him. I played him twice. I know which kind of player he is. I step in knowing that, yeah, that I could hurt him in tennis-wise. I was serving well, playing aggressive. Everything was working pretty fine.

Yeah, I mean, obviously you don't step in and you know you're gonna win, but I had the confidence to bring the match in that way.

Q. A lot of your countrymen are playing today. Things are going pretty well. Are you paying close attention to what's going on? Are you watching their matches?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I mean, now I was having lunch and I saw a couple of points against Mager, the match with Mager and Sinner. I follow the score after my match a little bit of Seppi. I saw that he lost. I mean, obviously I was following because Kwon is going to be my next opponent.

Yeah, I'm not really watching, because I have other stuff to do, but it's really nice to see all of the Italians. It's something we are not used to it. Nobody is used to it. And I think it's really great.

Q. After you lost at Roland Garros last year, you told us you were looking for the light, but all you could see was darkness. What are you looking for right now? How much light can you see?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, I mean, I wasn't the best place on my career, I have to say. I had a lot of injuries. It wasn't an easy year for anyone.

So when I was looking around myself, tennis-wise I was looking at bubbles and stuff, and sometimes I was feeling like -- obviously I was happy to play tournaments, but it wasn't the best, like, atmosphere. I miss the atmosphere. I miss the fans. I miss everything.

That's what I was looking for. And obviously then inside I would say something more, that it's coming from inside, you know, like really the will to do great stuff.

I think from the beginning of this year, I found the thing, it was the thing that brought me where I was, where I am now. Now I see that it's normal. Like it's ups and downs, like it's tennis (smiling).

So when I struggle, I struggle. When I'm happy, I'm happy. But before it was a little bit too dark. I have to work, and I'm proud of what I have done. Now I'm really looking forward to play next tournaments, next matches, because at the end now I feel I'm back again.