Matteo Berrettini is into the Wimbledon semifinals after beating the Montreal native and good friend Felix Auger Aliassime 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 in three hours and five minutes.
The world No.9 hit 11 winners and 13 aces to become the first Italian man to reach the last four of the tournament since 1960 and only the second in history to do so. Berrettini is currently on a 10-match winning streak after lifting the Queen’s title just over a week ago.
“Everything is crazy right now and thanks to Felix (Auger Aliassime) because he played a great match, he is probably one of my best friends on tour so it’s never easy to play against him and I am really happy,” he said.
The first two games of the match went with serve and at 1-1, it was the Italian with the first two breakpoints of the match and broke the Canadian to take an early 2-1 lead. After consolidating the break Shapovalov struggled with his serve and the world number nine pounced on it and got himself up by a double break. Then at 5-2 there was a long game before the Canadian got a break back. Berrettini pushed back the following game and broke the Canadian to love to seal the first set.
The second set, like the first, stayed on serve the first two games before the world number 19 went looking for the early break and it was third time lucky for the Montreal native as he broke to take an early lead.
At 3-2, Berrettini fought back to stay alive in the set and managed to get the break. However, it was the Canadian who broke back at 5-5 and went on to serve out the second set.
The third frame stayed on serve until 6-5 when the Italian had a look at two set points on his opponent’s serve and earned the crucial break to take the third set and a two sets to one lead.
The momentum stayed with the world number nine and he earned the first two breakpoints of the set and broke to take a 2-0 lead. That break was the only break he needed to serve out the match and get the win.
After the match in his post-match interview, Berrettini was asked how he approaches a match when he knows the opponent so well.
” I think we know each other pretty well but we played once in a tournament on grass two years ago but for sure he improved so today was really tricky and it was really difficult and I’m happy for me.” He said.
Berrettini will now face Hubert Hurkacz in the semi-finals on Friday after the Pole shocked the tennis world beating Roger Federer in straight sets.
