Matteo Berrettini could not bring himself to watch the match, or even to check the score.
The Italian player knew he was on the precipice of becoming one of only eight players to qualify for the year-end Nitto ATP Finals at London’s O2 arena. All he needed was for Denis Shapovalov to beat Gaël Monfils in the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters, and he would edge ahead of Monfils in the standings.
Less than seven months ago, Berrettini was not even ranked in the world’s top 50. But in only his second full year on tour, the 23-year-old from Rome had a late spring/summer surge that garnered him two ATP Tour titles and a spectacular run to the semifinals of the United States Open. There, he beat Monfils in a fifth-set tiebreaker in the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual champion, Rafael Nadal.
On Nov. 1, while Shapovalov and Monfils were playing in Paris, Berrettini and a close friend headed out to dinner near Berrettini’s home in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
When Berrettini’s phone suddenly started exploding with calls and text messages, he knew that Monfils had lost and that he was in the ATP Finals.
He promptly ordered Tuscan Florentine steak and a bottle of red wine to celebrate.
During an interview the next day, he was still in awe. The following conversation has been edited and condensed.
What was it like when you found out you had qualified?
I was so stressed out over the last few days that I was just trying to do anything to stay distracted. But after I realized what happened, I had video calls with my team, my coach, my family, my grandma. All the people that are close to me. It was a really nice moment. But it was really tough to sleep that night. I was thinking about too many things.
Have you already sent a case of Italian wine to Shapovalov to thank him for beating Monfils and giving you the last spot in the tournament?
Not yet, because he’s still playing the Paris tournament. I don’t want to distract him. He has to be focused and not drunk.
Is it a little bit ironic that you edged out Monfils when you beat him in that dramatic four-hour match at the U.S. Open?
It’s unbelievable that we were playing for the last spot because my match against him was, for sure, so far, the best match that I ever played. The best feeling that I had was during that match. It’s crazy how life is.
In that match, you double-faulted on your first match point, had to fight your nerves and needed four others to finally win. Did that match define you?
In that moment, I was really myself. All the work that I did with my team for all the years, not just this year, we were working for that moment. When I realized that, I said to myself, “It’s O.K. to be tight, it’s O.K. to be scared a little bit. It’s normal. It’s your first time in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open, Arthur Ashe [Stadium] is full, what do you expect from yourself? It’s O.K. to be emotional.” And I accepted that. So yeah, that match defined me because I was myself in that moment.
Did you know that you’re now ranked a career-high No. 8?
Call me every day and remind me of that, O.K.?
When you lost to Roger Federer by 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, in an hour and 14 minutes in the round of 16 at Wimbledon, you shook his hand and said, “Thanks for the lesson.” Did you mean it?
Oh, yeah. He laughed. But for me, that moment was like a dream. It’s not that I didn’t care that I lost. I was upset. But I grew up watching Roger and cheering for him on TV.
So being at Wimbledon, on Centre Court, against my idol, was something more than just about a win or a loss. I told my team that we have a lot to improve because I want to be able to play with that guy and do better.
Do you realize that you may well play Roger again in London? And Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and the others? You’re actually 2-9 against the field, with your only wins coming over Dominic Thiem and Sasha Zverev earlier this year.
That’s the thing. I’ve already played against those guys, all except Djokovic. It’s something you get used to. But being one of those guys — I have goose bumps right now.
Source: Tennis - nytimes.com
