Matteo Berrettini has admitted he is grateful for the people that have supported him as he is into the Roland Garros quarter-finals.
The former Wimbledon finalist defeated Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3 7-6 7-6 to reach the last eight in Paris.
After winning a five hour epic the round before, Berrettini won the crucial points to defeat the Argentinian who had an incredible tournament himself.
Speaking after the win Berrettini was delighted about the victory as he is back in the latter stages of a Grand Slam, “I think you could see the celebration after the match. I was pumped, happy, and again, grateful,” Berrettini told journalists in his post-match press conference.
“Really tough match. I just fought through, especially in the third set. You know, I was down a break, and 6-3 down in the breaker. So I was able to get the win in straight sets, which is great, and I think a really high-level tennis overall. I’m really happy and proud of myself.
“The key was actually finding the confidence to go 100% every single shot like I did. I think that’s what made me successful was that I was, you know, like, hitting the ball hard and with a lot of weight on the ball. That’s why, I think, my serve and my forehand, obviously, are the biggest weapons that I have and finding the 100% is the solution for feeling like I felt today.”
It is certainly a big breakthrough for Berrettini who has endured some tough times which has seen his ranking drop to outside the world’s top 100.
The Italian has had to overcome injuries and dark time in order to enjoy the best moments once again.
Speaking in his press conference Berrettini was grateful for his friends and family for supporting him during the tough moments as he looks ahead to the quarter-finals, “Yeah, it does make it sweeter, because I actually remember now how sad I was, and now I’m so… I’m not surprised, but I just proved to myself, once again, that I could do it, that even in the toughest moment, like, I just found the energy,” Berrettini explained.
“I was lucky enough to have people around me that helped me to find the kind of energy, to find the positive vibes, the positive thoughts, which is not easy to find, you know, when you’re in the darkness a little bit, when things are not coming your way, and you’re struggling just to hit few balls or just struggling to compete.
“That’s why I feel like this, because from the very first point until the last, I was there, I was enjoying, I was talking good to myself. This is what tennis means this for me, like, being pumped, happy, and ready to compete.”
Berrettini will face compatriot Matteo Arnaldi for a place in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
