Italy’s top ranked player has said he still has goosebumps when remembering what 20-time grand slam champion Roger Federer once said to him.
Matteo Berrettini said he was left starstruck after being congratulated by the Swiss maestro midway through his breakout season. During 2019 the 24-year-old rocketed up the world rankings from 52 to a career ranking high of 8th. During that period, he achieved numerous milestones. Including winning two ATP titles, recording six wins over top 10 opposition and becoming the first man from his country to reach the US Open semi-finals for 42 years.
According to Berrettini, one of the most memorable moments of 2019 took place during the Halle Open when he came face-to-face with Federer. Their interaction took place just weeks before they met in the fourth round at Wimbledon. Where Federer cruised to victory by dropping only five games in total.
“Before Wimbledon I played Stuttgart and Halle. I won Stuttgart whose defending champions was Federer,” Berrettini told Stats Perform.
“In Halle I met him and he complimented me. Before we only exchanged some hellos but to be complimented by him still gives me goosebumps.
“We didn’t speak during Wimbledon because we were in the same half of the draw, so no tips. But then he told me: ‘Congratulations for your grass season. Go on like this and you will go high.’
“Then we met again in London for the ATP Finals. He was very kind because we chatted during the famous boat trip from the hotel to the arena. We chatted about the holidays and his plans.
“The relationship with all of them is so weird. I grew up looking up to them, you know. But the relationship is good, they are special.”
In their only other meeting at the end-of-season ATP Finals last November, Berrettini fared better against his rival. Losing 7-6(2), 6-3. Since 2010 Federer has only lost to an Italian on the Tour once. That was against Andreas Seppi at the 2015 Australian Open.
Due to COVID-19, tennis has come to a standstill until at least July. Although some fear the season may be wiped out all together due to the virus. One of the many events to be cancelled is Wimbledon for the first time since 1945. A tournament that has been hailed by Berrettini.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, Wimbledon is my favourite slam. I reached the US Open semis but I regard Wimbledon as the temple of our sport,” he said.
“I always say that in this place even people who are not experts or passionate about tennis, go there and get keen to be participating and playing. It is wonderful and its cancellation is very tough for us.”
Thiem can break the Big Three deadlock
Besides his admiration for Federer, Berrettini has backed Austria’s Dominic Thiem as the player who has the most potential to end the reign of the Big Three. A group composed of Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Thiem is a three-time grand slam finalist and claimed his maiden Masters 1000 trophy last year in Indian Wells. In January he fell in five sets to Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open.
“Thiem has started as a clay specialist, good rotations and power, but lately he has improved dramatically on hardcourt and faster surfaces. I guess now he is the one I tip for experience and qualities to break through the ‘Big Three.” He assessed.
Berrettini won two out of his three matches against Thiem last year with this only loss occurring in three sets at the Vienna Open. Nevertheless, he has picked the Austrian as one of the players he would like to align most with. The other being Stefanos Tsitsipas, who he describes as the most ‘talented and attacking.’
“My ideal (player) would be between (Stefanos) Tsitsipas and Theim.” He concluded.
Berrettini is currently ranked eighth in the world.
