World Number 8 and US semifinalist Matteo Berrettini has a very positive memory of his first match against Roger Federer at last year’s Wimbledon despite a straight set defeat in the fourth round.
Berrettini looked back to his first meeting with the Swiss legend in an interview to Italian Sports Newspaper Corriere dello Sport.
Eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer eased past Matteo Berrettini 6-1 6-2 6-2 in the Round of 16 at Wimbledon. A few months later Federer beat Berrettini 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 in the round robin match at the Nitto ATP Finals in London. Federer broke Berrettini twice in each set and never dropped his serve.
“For me, playing against him has always been a dream and I am very happy to have made it happen. Federer was my idol growing up. It was a beautiful emotion, especially the first time I played on, on the Centre Court at Wimbledon. I was very excited and I didn’t play my best tennis”, said Berrettini.
Berrettini enjoyed a breakthrough 2019 season in which he won two ATP titles in Budapest and Stuttgart and earned career-high 43 wins. He held in all 50 of his service games at Stuttgart. He went to reach his first ATP 500 semifinals in Halle and Vienna He got through to his first Masters 1000 semifinal in Shanghai and first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open.
