Matteo Berrettini, 25-year-old, is the first Italian player to reach a Wimbledon men’s singles final and will aim to become the first Italian to lift the title. He will be facing Serbian and World No 1 Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s showpiece event.

Berrettini downed Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 6-0, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4 in the semi-final on Centre Court of Wimbledon. While this will be the first major final of Berrettini’s career, his current form speaks volumes about his red-hot streak and how he can prove to be a big roadblock for Djokovic.

The first-ever Italian in Wimbledon final, if Berretinni emerges out victorious, it will make him Italy’s first male Slam champion since Adriano Panatta at the 1976 French Open.

In his previous two encounters against Djokovic, he was on the losing side, including the quarters at French Open. But he is on a run of 11-0 this season on the grass having won the Queen’s Club event on the eve of Wimbledon. He had beaten Andy Murray, as well.

At the All England Club, he has blasted his way to the final on the back of a tournament-leading 101 aces.

Ahead of the big final, let’s take a look at three things on the 25-year-old Italian:

— Berrettini said that he is far more stressed when he watches girlfriend Ajla Tomljanovic’s matches than when he is immersed in his own.

Sunday will be Tomljanovic’s turn to be stressed as she watches her boyfriend of two years try and become the first Italian to be crowned Wimbledon champion.

Berrettini used the time they were together during the coronavirus lockdown to teach Tomljanovic to cook some of her favourites, including pasta with garlic and chili.

However, it was Tomljanovic who got to pick the Netflix series which were not universally popular with the Italian film buff.

Talking about their relationship, Berrettini said, “We are two quiet people, we share two passions: movies and dogs,” he said.

His influential parents, father Luca and mum Claudia gave the relationship their seal of approval from the outset. “We are not involved in it; if he is happy, we are happy too,” said Claudia.

— Like many Italians the family is first and foremost in Berrettini’s heart

A nerve-wracked Luca, Claudia and his younger brother Jacopo were present on Centre Court to watch his semi-final victory over Hubert Hurkacz.

Jacopo has played a pivotal role in Berrettini’s tennis journey. They have been doubles partners from time to time. Talking about the brothers, Claudia said, “They are very close,” said Claudia in 2019 of the brothers’ relationship.

“As youngsters Matteo was very sensitive and caring for his brother. He looked out for him,” she added.

Berrettini says tennis is in the family’s DNA — his grand-parents still play — and nothing gave him greater pleasure than when both his parents were in Belgrade when he won the Serbian Open this year.

— Berrettini is a fan of Fiorentina although he professes not to know too much about football.

An avid reader, his favourite book is Ernest Hemingway’s ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’. However, he has maintained that he’s a fan of Charles Bukowski.

The Italian also loves cinema. From Stanley Kubrick to Italian director and master of the ‘spaghetti western’ Sergio Leone to Quentin Tarantino, Berrettini watches it all.

Although he likes to listen to a variety of music his favourite is American rapper Eminem.