Matteo Berrettini: The Grand Slam title in sight
Matteo Berrettini draws a line under a bewitched 2022 season full of injuries and major setbacks. The Roman would like to come out stronger from these experiences for 2023.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Dec 11, 2022, 04:41 pm
It was one of the really big tales of woe in the 2022 season, because it could very well have been a really big tennis fairy tale. We're talking about Matteo Berrettini and his weeks before and around Wimbledon 2022. While last year's finalist was still struggling with a stubborn injury, the Roman really turned things up as a returnee in the short grass season: Nine wins and two title wins were in the bag back then for the world number 16. to London - only to have to miss the Grand Slam tournament due to a positive COVID test. A damper.
Months later, things are already sounding much more positive with the Italian. "I see myself as one of the top players," said Berrettini at Eurosport - without forgetting the big competition. "I remember playing against Alcaraz earlier in the year and I felt like he's a great player and has great potential. I didn't expect him to rise so quickly but he deserved it " said the Roman, who stressed that Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will also continue to be the players to beat.
Berrettini is aiming for the Grand Slam title
He himself, according to Berrettini, is convinced that he will quickly find his way back to his world ranking level - the Italian reached number six in the ATP charts last year: "I know that I can go back there. Why not even better?" according to the 26-year-old. who has big goals in mind for the coming season: "I see my chances of winning a Grabd Slam," said Berrettini. "In the past few years, I wasn't that far away. That's definitely a goal," just like returning to the top 10 - and then further advance in the world rankings.
The most important thing is of course that the body plays along: "Of course I had to think about my health first, because if I don't have it, it's difficult to play," Berrettini alluded to the injury break in 2022. "But once you're there and you're feeling good, then of course the goal is to win a Grand Slam tournament, win an ATP Masters 1000, have deep runs at the most important tournaments in the world, and I think I can do it," emphasized the Italian, who has won seven titles on the ATP tour - and has already reached the final of a major tournament once,