ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 3, 2024

Matteo Berrettini

Mixed Zone

M. BERRETTINI/C. O'Connell

7-6, 7-6

Q. Congratulations. Must be good to return to Shanghai with a win.

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, great, great. It's been five years, actually, time is flying. Obviously I had good memories from five years ago, a great tournament, and got even better. Yeah, happy to be back, happy for the win, and hopefully another great match ahead.

Q. It's very different this year, to this time last year, when you sort of had to shut your season down after the US Open. Can you talk about being off tour at that time, and how good it feels now.

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, it's been, I mean, last year was really, really tough, one of the worse year of my career and my life as well, because obviously that's what we do. When you're not able to do your job and what you like to do, then it's always a struggle, but, so I'm really appreciating every moment that I have to spend on court and to perform and give my best.

I know it's a process. I know, you know, like I did a great job this year to build up again my ranking, and I'm feeling good, so hopefully a great end of the season as well.

Q. Were you ever concerned that you wouldn't be able to get back to this level?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: One thing that I always believe in was my level was there. The thought that I had was like, Am I going to be able to be consistent, you know, like, and healthy enough to perform. Because tennis, obviously it's not just about one tournament, but the season is very long, so you have to be really consistent with the results and stuff. So, that was the main thought about it, but never had doubt about my level.

Q. Your season overall includes three titles, so you must be pleased with how you have come back.

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely, definitely. I still skipped, like, some tournaments, I couldn't play some tournaments that I really cared about, but at the same time, obviously getting three titles, one finals in Stuttgart, it was really, really nice and, you know, proved once again that when I'm good, I'm feeling good, the level is there.

Q. I know that you must get asked a lot about Italian tennis, but sort of does it help to have such a successful group of players on tour at the moment?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Definitely, definitely, it helped me a lot to come back. I look after them, you know, I mean, I look for their results to get the energy to come back. I'm always supporting them in the last year in Davis Cup to get the energy to come back.

Obviously what Jannik is doing is unbelievable. He proved yesterday once again how his level is so high. I take inspiration from that, and I think all Italians do, and that's why we have so many players that are really good.

Q. Any targets for the end of this year and looking into next year as well, any goals?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I mean, it would be nice to be in the top 32 at the end of the year and to be seeded in Australia. That's one of the goals that we gave, like in the group, in the team that I have, but at the same time for me the most important thing is being healthy and being able to play, that's the most important thing.

I have this tournament and many tournaments ahead that are really important for me, hopefully also the Davis Cup, so it's still a lot of tournaments, and hopefully I can play all of them.

Q. You were a semifinalist the last time you were here, that must give you confidence your next match against Rune.

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Definitely. I like the conditions here. I know it's been five years and, you know, different players, different situations. Holger played well last week, so it's always a tough match against him. We played in Cincinnati a few months ago. I expect a tough one, but at the same time I have the confidence to step up on court and win the match.