AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 26, 2022

Matteo Berrettini

Press Conference

M. BERRETTINI/G. Monfils

6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: How did you turn it around the beginning of the fifth when you went up two breaks? What did you tell yourself at that point?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Just told myself that I wanted to hit every ball as hard as I could and fight for every point as hard as I could.

I wouldn't let myself get out of the court without fighting the best I could, and I guess I found some energy that I didn't know I had. It was really important to start like that with two breaks and leading 4-0 after that, new balls, was important.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. You have reached the semifinal of three different slams now. In the past, did you ever doubt that you could kind of build the career that you're building right now for yourself?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: When? How long ago?

Q. Whenever.

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I think before my first semis in US Open, I didn't really think that I could have done so much. Not because I didn't believe, just because I came from a mentality that I took every step, you know, day by day and I was never the guy, and even now, never the guy saying, Okay, now I'm going to turn pro, I'm going to try to win a slam. I was never like that.

So even when I played the fourth round in Wimby and I got killed by Roger (smiling), I was happy for my result but when I got there I was trying for more. I was, like, Okay, now I want to do more.

Then when I made semis the first time, I was thinking, okay, I want to do it again. I want to try to go further. But step by step all the time.

Q. Were you surprised just in the fifth set how things went your way, after losing the third set, fourth set, that you were quickly up 4-0 in the fifth set and it was almost over?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Surprised, no, because I was really feeling the right mood with the right energy. I think I switched since the very first point. Even I went down 30-Love, he was serving, I felt like the energy was different, the way I was hitting the ball was different. I said, This is the way -- if I'm gonna lose, this is the way that I'm gonna lose.

And then after that, I guess I was in the mood, he wasn't in the right mood, and that's why it went that way.

Q. First Italian to reach semifinals in the Australian Open history. How proud are you with the history? What does that mean to you and all the Italian fans watching around the country and back home in Italy?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: No, it makes me super proud. I don't think it's wrong to say that I'm kind of like -- I like to think that I'm writing a little bit Italian tennis history. We are a great country for tennis. We had in the past some great champions, and it's an honor for me and a pleasure, like stepping in the court and kind of like having the chance to write these kind of results and achieve such a big, I don't know, results, like I said.

It makes me really proud, something that normally I figure out after a tournament, because when I'm in tournament, just thinking about winning the next match or next point, but yeah, I am feeling a lot of love from Italy and a lot of love from my fans, from my family, all my people they saw me like growing up and they're kind of like me, Oh, look at you, how far you went.

Q. You were not happy with the crowd afterwards. I couldn't hear everything you were hearing, but what were you hearing that was annoying you tonight?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: No, I mean, I'm fine when the crowd is against me, and I think when you're playing Gael, it's normal because Gael is really loved. Also US Open was like that, and I don't have anything against that. But I have a problem when you're not correct, because if you're saying something, screaming something between my first and second serve, when I'm about to hit a forehand, like you cough or you do something, then it's not right. I have a problem with that.

I think the referee, when I told him, he said something, I know it's always tricky to get in these kind of like situations, but I think it was a way also for me to find some energy, you know. Like sometimes it can happen, it's a good thing. Overall, I'm really used to the crowd that it's like respectful in that way. I don't like it when it's happening to me either. In Rome I'm always saying, Guys, between the first and second, be quiet. But like I said in the court, you cannot control everybody. You have to handle also that.

Q. Your thoughts on playing Nadal next.

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Oh, it's gonna be, I mean, great opportunity again for me. After two years and a half playing this guy that doesn't need anything more, from my words, for all I said, I watch him so many times in this tournament and other tournaments, cheering for him, and playing with him in Rod Laver in semifinals is something that I dreamed about when I was a kid.

So I said this, but now I really want to win this match. I know I can do it. It's gonna be a really tough one. But I'm in the semis in a slam for the third time, like you guys said, so it means that this is my level and I want to get further.

Q. As you said on the court, you were in this position against Carlos as well where you won the first two sets and then in the fifth set, I'm curious how dangerous is that position and when the momentum is maybe against you? What do you kind of have to make sure you don't do to stay kind of where you want to be?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, I mean, tennis is a really tricky sport, you know. Like I was feeling the momentum in both matches. Probably even more with Carlos. I remember 4-3, Love-30, and then kind of just snapped like that, and the match turned around.

You just have to be composed. That's what I'm telling myself. You have to think that you're up. Even when I was two sets all, I was telling myself that I was two sets up. That's a good thing. It means that I was playing better than him and that I still could do that.

And I knew that, I mean, when you are two sets to Love down, I was in that kind of like situation, I know it's kind of easier to play. You don't feel the pressure. You know that you're close to lose, so it's kind of like easier.

When it's two sets all and the fifth is starting, then there you feel the pressure. So I was ready for that. I was ready. It's normal the guy was feeling the pressure a little bit more and I used that in my favor.