BERRETTINI HOPING FOR ITALIAN DOUBLE
Wimbledon and Wembley – how’s that for pair of sporting triumphs
MATTEO BERRETTINI is desperate to see Italian sporting history written at Wimbledon and Wembley this weekend.
The dashing world No.9 is the first man from the Bel Paese to reach the semi-finals at SW19 since 1960. And the Fiorentina fan is only two wins away from completing his half of a famous Italian sporting double in London.
“Everything is crazy right now,” he said. “I really hope there will be two Italian wins in London on Sunday – it would be an historic day.”
Novak Djokovic, who takes on Denis Shapovalov today, remains the red-hot favourite to win a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title.
But there is guaranteed to be a first-time Grand Slam finalist as Berrettini, who watched the Italy-spain game with Felix Auger Aliassime before their quarter-final clash, will take on Hubert Hurkacz in the other semi.
The only other Italian man to reach the last four here was Nicola Pietrangeli who lost to Rod Laver in five sets way back in 1960. “It makes me really, really proud thinking that it has been 61 years,” beamed Berrettini.
“My father will be 59 this year. So my father was not even born! I have done a really beautiful thing. I will try not to stop here. This is tennis history being written and I am doing it. And I don’t want to stop here.”
Berrettini lost to Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2019 and fell in straight sets to Rafa Nadal later that year at the US Open, his first Major semifinal. But this time he is on an unbeaten streak to rival
Roberto Mancini’s Italian side – 10 matches on grass, including the biggest title of his career at Queen’s Club.
And instead of the expected re-match with Federer, he will face world No.18 Hurkacz, Fed’s conqueror.
The two first met in Australian Open qualifying in 2018 when the Italian won.
But the Pole gained revenge on his way to the Miami Open
title in April. “Compared to 2019, I think things have changed for me,” said No.7 seed Berrettini, partner of women’s world No.75 Aljaz Tomljanovic.
“He’s having a great season. He has beaten Daniil Medvedev and Roger so far in the tournament so it will be difficult but I can do it.”
Andy Murray’s Canadian conqueror Shapovalov will then seek to inflict a first Grand Slam defeat of the season on Djokovic.
Djokovic, 34, has already won the Australian and French Opens and will comgreatest
plete the first men’s calendar Golden Slam should he win Wimbledon, the Olympics, and the US Open.
But BBC analyst John Mcenroe said: “I think he will win the Grand Slam but he will lose at the Olympics because it’s bestof-three and it’s tough to get back up that fast.
“Novak did hold all four in a row at one stage. It is crazy that he has been this consistently good. Is it possible to say he is better than ever at this age?”