ATP Masters Madrid: Matteo Berrettini - Healthy respect for Alexander Zverev
Matteo Berrettini willmeet Alexander Zverev in the final of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid on Sunday evening. The Italian has respect for his opponent, but still believes in his chance.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: May 09, 2021, 10:28 am
A little off the spotlight, Matteo Berrettini played his way into the final at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid. After the cancellation of Novak Djokovic and the early out of number two of the tournament, Daniil Medvedev, the field was wide open. A chance that the Italian should use ice cold, most recently in the form of a relatively safe two-set success against clay court specialist Casper Ruud.
"It is of course a great feeling," said the Roman following his victory in the semifinals. A win that is all the more significant as Berrettini had to contend with a persistent injury over the course of the season so far: "I've been thinking about myself and the efforts I've made to get here. I'm actually happier about it the troubles I had after the injury. I don't want to stop, it's not over, but I feel a great desire to come back and be stronger than before. I have to keep going. "
Berrettini: "It's about trust"
The 25-year-old clearly attributes the current successes to the hard work that Berrettini and his team did in the pre-season. Although this was almost wiped out after that injury was supposed to stop the Italian Down Under: "That's why I received the news of the injury so badly: I said to myself:" Now again? Do I have to start all over again now? ", The world number tenth recalls the bad news.
In the end, however, it was words from his team that got him mentally back on track: "Sometimes it's about keeping trust high. There was a moment when Ivan Ljubicic, my manager, told me that he really believes in me. These are things that help, especially when they come from someone like him who has had an incredible career. "
In the final in Madrid, the Roman now faces an extremely formidable player, the German Alexander Zverev. A man who had already disenchanted Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem in the tournament so far. For Berrettini no reason to freeze in awe: "He beat Rafa and Dominic, that's true, but I also made it to the final. In the end, the two players who have proven to be strong face each other."