US OPEN

August 31, 2021

Matteo Berrettini

Press Conference

M. BERRETTINI/J. Chardy

7-6, 7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Could you give us a brief overview of how you thought the match went today and how you think your level of play is going into round 2.

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I think it was a good match. Before stepping in, I knew it would be really tough for so many reasons. First of all, because Jeremy is a great player. I know he can play really good, especially on these courts. They are really fast. He's really tricky to play.

Yeah, I think I played a solid match. I was serving well, not feeling like the best from the baseline, but then, like, the match was going on and I was feeling better and better.

I knew coming here to New York that it wouldn't be easy. I didn't play a lot during the summer. I played a lot before the summer until Wimbledon, and then obviously when you get injured, it's not easy to come back and feeling the same feelings.

But I'm happy because I played just in the end three sets, and especially the first two were really tough.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. When you have two tough sets like that, he could have won both of them. How beneficial was it getting through those with the confidence you get?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I mean, it's really important. In a way you think like, okay, if I win, especially the second breaker, you're going to be two sets to Love, and after, like you said, two tough sets like that, mentally it's really important.

I was ready to fight even if I lost that set. I knew that my level was getting higher and higher, and obviously I tried to win all the sets that I played, but the mentality is (indiscernible). Then obviously I think he felt that he had like to win three sets in order to win the match, and it's not easy, because, I mean, I said already, the courts are so fast. Taking a break is not easy.

Yeah, mentally maybe for him was tougher.

Q. How nice is it for you to come back to a place where especially a couple years ago you have had as much success as you have had and...

MATTEO BERRETTINI: It's great. I came here last year as well but I wasn't even close to how I used to be. Obviously I came because those were the conditions, and I played, but I enjoy way more when there are fans and my friends, and the stadium, I think it was pretty full.

I really like playing in front of the crowd and feeling the energy, because this is one the reasons why I'm playing tennis, feeling the energy, like, watching the people watching me. So it feels great.

Q. This is your first major that you're playing after reaching the final at Wimbledon. I know it's just a match and you're focusing on Jeremy and what you have to do to win, but is there a weight that you feel, knowing that you were so close to winning a major and now you're playing your first major right after that?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I mean, it's part of the process. It's part of our game. Obviously achieving a big trophy, a big tournament or something that I did in the past, doesn't make me feel like the season is over. Like we always have, in our case, in our case also we had the Olympics, which I couldn't go and it was a big thing for me.

So I'm not saying that it's normal, but it's not easy, but we have to handle that, because it's important for me. It's really important being solid during the season, on grass, on clay, on hard. So I really want to play like my best level, especially in the majors.

So I know it's not going to be easy, it's not going to be smooth, but that's what we do.