Who is Matteo Berrettini?

World No 9 Matteo Berrettini became the first Italian to reach the Wimbledon singles final on Friday when he claimed a 6-3, 6-0, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4 win over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. The 25-year-old will face 19-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the final on Sunday. 

“I think I never dreamed about this because it was too much for a dream,” said Berrettini, who can become Italy’s first men’s Grand Slam champion since Adriano Panatta at the 1976 French Open.

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“I am trying to be the best at everything but after the third set, I was feeling I deserved to win it but lost it. I said ‘it doesn’t matter, I was feeling the stronger player and that’s what I said to myself and eventually it paid off,” he said post the semi-final victory. 

Who is Matteo Berrettini?

Born in Rome, Matteo Berrettini has a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No 8, achieved in November 2019, and a career-high ATP doubles ranking of world No 105, achieved in July 2019.

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He is usually described as an aggressive all-court player and is known for his strong serve and forehand. Along with speed, Berrettini has good control of spin and depth. 

At the 2021 Wimbledon Championships Berrettini reached his second straight Grand Slam quarterfinal defeating Ilya Ivashka. He defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime in four sets to reach his first Wimbledon semifinal and second career Grand Slam semifinal, becoming the first Italian man in the Open Era to reach the Wimbledon semifinals and the second in history since Nicola Pietrangeli in 1960.