THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 6, 2023

Matteo Berrettini

Press Conference

M. BERRETTINI/L. Sonego

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

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Matteo Berrettini.

Matteo, good to get the win in the end?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, finally we finished the match. No, it's super nice obviously. Like I said at the beginning of the tournament, it's just great to be here. I think obviously during the match I didn't feel unbelievable on how I used to feel. But I expect that. Also against a really good friend like Lorenzo, it's never easy.

I'm glad that I won this match because a few days ago I didn't think it was possible. So, yeah, everything, it's great right now.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. The stoppage yesterday. It seemed that both of you weren't happy with the court conditions, you were slipping. It seems like if both players think it's dangerous, they shouldn't play. What were your thoughts on that, and what did the supervisors tell you?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, it's tricky because I also checked on the other courts. I asked, and everybody was playing. I thought it was really slippery.

When I was touching it, it wasn't that much. Yeah, we both agreed it wasn't worth it. Especially because we knew anyways we had to play a set and darkness would have come.

I know it's tough. I think sometimes it's just a little bit weird, like, supervisors or referees dress up with sneakers and say, No, it's playable.

It has to be a little bit more than that.

I get, for example, that they wanted to finish the tiebreak, but we fell three times in the tiebreak. I think it's really tough.

I told them like we were late. You have to play. Darkness is coming. I know everybody was in a rush. Everybody wanted to finish the match. But when it's not safe, it's dangerous, you don't want to get injured.

Actually his fall, if you look at it, it was bad. They said, Okay, that's enough. You don't want to get to that point, but it's always tough to stop.

Q. You just said it seemed unlikely that you would win this match a few days ago. What changed in the past few days?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: No, I didn't know if I was ready or not. Like I didn't practice much. I didn't serve much. Like what you're supposed to do before a tournament, before a Grand Slam...

At the same time, my will of playing was bigger than my preparation, I guess. I was like, Okay, let's see what I can do. I know in my heart I want to play this tournament, doesn't matter the result.

In a way, it was perfect because I played one set, two sets, then one set. I didn't stress my body too much. At the same time I know tomorrow I have to play. It's going to be tricky. Let's see.

I actually felt really good on court physically. Yeah, that's why I'm happy. Unless you try, you're never going to know. Sometimes in the past I stopped before because I felt my body wasn't ready. This time I kind of forced it a little bit. Now I'm feeling good. Was worth it.

Q. When you played Lorenzo a few weeks ago, on that day, how much did you feel you would be able to play Wimbledon? Was it a major doubt you would be able to play here after that match?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: No, after that it was a lot of things that happened in my mind during that match. I thought already I wasn't ready mentally especially.

Coming back from an injury, it's never easy, especially when you've maybe, like, experienced the 'worst' period of your career results-wise.

Last year my coach is always telling me I spoiled myself with the fact that I came back after hand surgery and I won back-to-back titles on grass. I had a lot of expectations.

I remember hitting the first time on grass at Stuttgart, feeling unbelievable, like I never stopped playing on grass. So expectations were really high. At the same time I didn't have any matches, like, in my background.

You have to measure so many things. Sometimes you just go too forward with your head. You have to be in the moment. I couldn't handle that moment. I completely got emotionally blocked. I don't know how to explain it.

When I thought that I wouldn't be ready is when I retired from the Queen's. I was like, Okay, I don't have enough time.

My goal was to be here somehow. I worked really hard to be here. I'm actually really glad that I won the first match.

Q. You've had some wonderful times here at Wimbledon. Novak feels like the man to beat.

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Just a little bit (smiling).

Q. What is the single hardest thing about playing Novak Djokovic?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: There are so many that it's tough to explain.

I think it's a matter of many things. First of all, he's a great player. Like, his skills are unbelievable. He improves all the time. If you look at the match against me, he was serving and volleying a lot, which is not really what you think about Novak when you think about Novak. He was always able to push his limits, through his limits, to get better and better.

Then I think he has an unbelievable experience obviously. When he played against me, was the 30th finals I think in a slam. When you step on court and you know that you kind of felt that feeling for 30 times, I'm not saying it's easier, but you're used to it, you're more ready. I think it's a matter of that.

Then, like the other two, I think they're just great players. They know themselves better. They really went deep in their bodies and their minds to just be the best version of themself. He keeps doing it.

That's why I think he's the man to beat.

Q. Can I ask about your next opponent, Alex. A couple years ago at Queen's he felt depressed because you blew him away on the court. Two years on, how do you assess this match? You've had your problems. He's a different sort of player.

MATTEO BERRETTINI: No, we know each other since a long time. I think the first time we play against each other was in Segovia in a challenger in 2017. I lost. Then we played in ATP Cup last year, 2022.

He's improving. He's a great fighter. His attitude is really special. Doesn't matter the score, he's always there. He improves his strokes, as well.

I know it's going to be a really tough match. He's seeded. I'm not. This year he got more wins than me. He's feeling confident. I know that I have the tennis to beat him. I know it's going to be a really tough match.

But like I said, I'm taking every day at a time, every point at a time. Right now it doesn't seem real that I won the first match. There was a moment last week where I was like, Okay, I'm not ready, maybe it's better if I pull out. But then I push through.

Whatever happens, it's going to be great for me. I'm feeling good. I'm feeling happy to be here. Yeah, that's the most important thing.