Matteo Berrettini became the first Italian player to reach the Wimbledon Championship singles final as he defeated Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 6-0, 6-7(3), 6-4 in the semis on Friday. He became the first Italian man to make any Grand Slam final since 1976.
“I have no words, really. I just know I played a great match, my family’s there, my whole team … I’m really proud. I think I never dreamed about this because it was too much for a dream. I’m just so happy. I think that’s it.” Berrettini said in the post-match interview.
Matteo Berrettini was on top throughout the match. He led 6-3, 6-0 in the first two sets, and created pressure on Hurkacz. Berrettini was consistent throughout and his forehands were absolutely blazing. Hurkacz took the third set in the tie-break, then Berrettini clinched the fourth set and booked his place in the semis. Berrettini won 11 games in a row and finished the match with five aces.
Matteo Berrettini will face Novak Djokovic in the finals
“Matteo played an unbelievable match today. In every single service game, he was serving bombs. I didn’t have many chances, basically probably zero. So huge congrats for him that he kept such a high level throughout the whole four sets.” Hurkacz said in the post-match interview
“He (Berrettini) was putting a lot of pressure on me. My first serve really wasn’t helping me, which usually does and gets me out of trouble. I was struggling with that. Plus he was putting a lot of pressure on me and he was playing really amazing without doing any unforced errors. If he continues to play like this, he has a big chance in the final.” Hurkacz added.
The 25-year-old has reached the 2019 US Open semi-finals and just a month before he made a quarterfinal appearance at the French Open. The No.7 seed, will face the five-time Wimbledon champion, Novak Djokovic in the finals on Sunday.
