AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 14, 2025

Matteo Berrettini

Press Conference

M. BERRETTINI/C. Norrie

6-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Matteo, how do you assess your performance today, and next up your match against Holger?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I think really good performance. I felt like I should have got him more from the first set, but tennis is like this.

So I used that kind of, like, feeling of upsetness to win and to find good energy, especially in the second set. After that I felt I was playing better and better.

I think also at the end he had some issues with his knee, so he wasn't moving that well. I was feeling better. So yeah, happy for my performance.

Especially it's never easy to play the first round. It's been so long since I play here, so I didn't know what to expect.

Yeah, next up Holger. We played a couple of times last year, and I saw the last few points of the match. Obviously he's a great player. We never played in a slam. So it's quite different, but at the same time I know it's going to be a tough match.

But I feel good. I feel confident. I played, I think, a really good match today. Ready for the next one.

Q. A huge part of your game today was your serve... 32 aces and 70 percent efficiency in the first half. Tell us what changes did you make to your serve, or what preparation did you do in the preseason? What strategy are you thinking in that sense for the matches coming up?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I mean, I didn't really change much. I didn't do -- I mean, I was serving Well in Davis Cup. I was serving well in Brisbane. My serve has always been my weapon. When it's working like that, it gives me oxygen when I'm going to return.

I still had to face some break points. It's important to not get distracted by the fact that you are serving well. Anything can happen.

We worked a little bit on the rotation of the shoulder. We tried to always improve and mix it up with the rotations. We are trying to push a little bit more with the right leg, which is really important, which is not the landing leg.

Yeah, but a few things, they can help in the long run, yes.

Q. Matteo, you played a player today who is about your age and then Holger is a good bit younger. Do the younger players play differently than the players who came up when you came up, do you think?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yes and no. I think obviously tennis is always evolving, but at the same time Holger, he came up, like, so young. I feel like even though he's seven years younger than me, I feel like we are in the same generation.

We like to play aggressive. We moves really well, playing flat. He likes to play on the surface.

I feel like the new generation doesn't really -- there aren't players that can play only on one surface. I think this is something that it's really important, especially with the calendar that is like that.

I don't think he's playing different from my generation. Obviously every player is different, so he has his weapons. Maybe, obviously, for example, Norrie has different weapons. He is lefty and makes you play a little bit more.

But, no, I feel like, I don't know, the young players, they play really well. I don't know if they're playing different, though (smiling).

Q. What are your memories from the two previous matches against Holger Rune?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I remember in both sets I won the first set. Then I wasn't able to close out the match. Tight match as well.

In Cincinnati... last year Cincinnati was crazy fast. Not fast, but also like couldn't control the ball. So I felt like really the match was decided by two points.

Shanghai, obviously, was on hard as well, but it was more playable. Shanghai was a solid match. I think I got broken once in the second and once in the third. So, again, few points. Hopefully this match, this next one, I'm going to try to win it.

But I remember that I was playing well, and then I guess he played just a little bit better than me.

Q. Obviously three years ago you made the semifinals here, and it's been a bit of a long road back with injuries, and you've done well to come back with that. Are there glimpses in your game, in your self-confidence that you are starting to read motion, get back to that level where you were three years ago? Do you feel that within yourself?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, definitely, definitely. It's crazy that it's already been three years. Time is flying.

I feel in some aspects of my game that I think are even better, but in tennis it's really important momentum and the matches that you play, the fact that you are playing the best guys in the world. So it's all about confidence.

I think in that moment I was feeling really confident, but if you look at -- I look at some highlights and stuff. I don't think I was playing better in terms of strokes. Maybe I was playing better because I was more focused. I was more, like, used to play certain kind of matches, but I feel like my level is up there.

Today I think I played a really good match. My backhand I think is better than three years ago. My return is better than three years ago. There is still room for improvement, luckily, and it's just a matter of time and matches and opportunities to play against the best players in the world.