By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_now | Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Photo Credit: Matthew Calvis
Country Monte-Carlo Club once was a haunted house to Matteo Berrettini.
Today cap Turned the country into a bounce house.
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A brave berrettine jumped with high -heeled Alexander Zverev 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in an annoying Master Rolex Monte-Carlo who had the capacity of the crowd cheering “Matteo! Matteo!” With many fans falling up and down on Aisles.
After failing to serve the match at 5-4, Berrettini was excavated with a defiance.
Former Wimbledon finalist dominated in a pulsating gathering with 48 strokes that ended with Zverev, leaning to the waist, staring at the breath as Berrettine raised a tight punch to the fan cheering.
The punitive rally helped breaking the 28-year-old Italian for 6-5 as Berrettini scored his biggest career victory, ranking, and his first career victory over a high-ranking player.
Berretin then said he focused on two tasks on decision makers: Fighting and encouraging fans in support of howl.
“I really had to push hard, especially mentally, you know, to tell myself to believe in my blows and believe in my tennis and just to enjoy the war,” Berrettine said. “This is what I did and what I kept saying to myself, especially in the third set when things were a little complicated at the end of it.”
The noisy crowd was emotional fuel for Berrettini to find the finish line.
“(The support of the crowd is) so important to us, for all Italians,” Berrettini said. “I think it’s special. This definitely helped me when you know, in some moments I also tried to make them even higher. You know, how you give you energy, especially when you are tired.
“So, of course, thanks to them and thanks to their support and support for my team, it was one of the big reasons why I was able to turn the game.”
Could this victory be a turning point for Berrettini?
A year ago, Berrettini was ranked 154th and this year he has already won for the reign of the Olympic Champion of the Gold Medal Novak Djokovic and the former Zverev Gold Medal.
Remembering a low point in his career, Berrettine shared how the cheers once wandered when he was in bed in Monte-Carlo.
“I have this memory three years ago when I was hurt here, and the next day I was in bed because I couldn’t move,” Berrettini said. “My AB was really hurting. Whenever I sneezing or coughing, it was really painful.
“They were playing in the center court and I could hear them, like, from my apartment. It was a difficult day. It was a hard day.”
Listening to Monte-Carlo’s fans calling his name was music for Berrettine’s ears today as he developed a return of progress.
“So (today) was like now I will enjoy, now I will make them scream for me, and that is why I also found that kind of energy in the third,” Berrettini said.
Next for Berretten is the Eicher Davis Cup team.
