AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2023

Matteo Berrettini

Press Conference

A. MURRAY/M. Berrettini

6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Tough luck, Matteo. Can you sum up in your own words the match, unfortunately that match point that didn't go your way?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, at the end it was a really good match, especially the last three sets. Just not really happy with the way I stepped in the court.

Obviously was a little bit different from what I expected it. It was cold. It wasn't hot like I expected. I was ready for different kind of conditions. Two minutes before, everything changed. I have to say Andy just handled the situation better.

But the good thing is that I obviously turned the match around with not a lot of tennis. I don't think I played really great today.

I mean, I had a match point, like you said. Just it's really tough to talk about the match now. Could have been, you know, different just with a different ball.

Last year I won 7-6 in the fifth. This year I lost 7-6 in the fifth. It's just tennis.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What did you think of Andy's level? Was he playing at a different level than when you played him at the US Open last year?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, I think he played definitely better. He was moving way better, hitting the ball better. Everything in general. He served really well. I mean, it wasn't a secret, he's returning one of the best on tour. I knew it would have been a tough first round.

I mean, he loves to play these kind of matches. He's a great champion. I said it so many times. Personally was great to play with that atmosphere against him.

Yeah, just a great match. Unfortunately it didn't go my way.

Q. You're nine years younger than Andy. How do you feel physically after that match?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I don't know how he feels. I feel tired, obviously (smiling).

I feel that I didn't lose because I was tired. I actually felt really good at the end of the fifth. Obviously, a little bit heavy with my legs. That wasn't the reason why I lost.

It's impressive what he could do after so many surgeries, after all the kilometers that he ran in his career. It's impressive. It just shows how much he loves the game, how much he loves these kind of matches.

Yeah, I personally didn't train much in the last pre-season. I was still struggling with some injuries. I was kind of like, Okay, let's see if I'm ready for five sets. And I was ready. So I'm happy for that.

Q. A couple of non-match questions. Could you tell us a little bit about your experience with the United Cup. The other thing is, Netflix. Have you watched much of it?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: The United Cup was great. I think it was a great way to start the year. We had a great energy, a great atmosphere. We were friends before, but we are even more friends now. Just I think a cool event. Yeah, it was great playing it.

About Netflix, I watched my episode. I didn't watch the others. Personally was good. Was great. Was nice memories. Obviously a little bit changed since then, but it's part of my life. It's part of what I experience.

I think it's really cool that it's out there. It can show my family, my team, and what we done last year. I don't know what they're going to show in the second part, but hopefully it's going to be good, as well.

Yeah, so many things are happening. It's something that I didn't expect when I started playing tennis.

Q. When were you told about the roof being closed? How much of a difference do you think it made?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I was told two minutes. Actually, I was ready to step on court and they told me. It was a big change. Obviously for Andy, as well. Like I said before, I think he handled it better.

Personally I think when the roof is closed, the conditions are slower. I went down with my tension during the match. That's why I was putting over-grips, over-grips, because I changed my whole tension.

The beginning was humid, then it got a little bit drier. That's what we do, we have to adjust to the conditions. The only thing was that I warmed up outside. Like, the temperature was pretty high and the ball was flying. Then it was different.

In Italy we say we're talking about nothing. I had a match point. I missed on his ball. That's sum up of the match.