TENNIS – Italy has waited 144 years for this – an Italian Wimbledon finalist at the All England Club. Berrettini will face either Novak Djokovic or Denis Shapovalov in Sunday’s final.
At one stage Matteo Berrettini served his way to an astonishing 11 games in a row against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.
When Berrettini led 6-3, 6-0 it appeared the match was going to be somewhat one-sided. Hurkacz fought back to take the third set in the tie-break, before Berrettini broke in the opening game of the fourth set and went on to win 6-3, 6-0, 6-7(3), 6-4.
Berrettini did not drop his serve
Hurkacz, who had beaten the No.2 seed, Daniil Medvedev, in the fourth round before going on to defeat Federer, was also trying to become the first man for his country to be a Wimbledon finalist. But he simply couldn’t keep pace with Berrettini.
The seventh seed, who reached the 2019 US Open semi-finals, did not lose his serve across four sets. He saved both the break points he faced on Centre Court.
Berrettini is a powerful player and he blasted 60 winners, including 22 aces, on his way to his first Grand Slam final.
“I have no words, really, just thanks. I need a couple of hours to understand what happened,” Berrettini said on court. “I played a great match. I enjoyed the crowd, my family and whole team are there. I think I never dreamed about this, because it was too much for a dream. I am so happy… Nothing [to say], grazie.”
Joining the small band of Italian Grand Slam finalists
From winning at Queen’s Club, Berrettini has been unbeatable on London’s grass courts this summer. This victory takes his unbeaten run to 11 matches.
Berrettini is the eighth Italian player, man or woman, to reach a Grand Slam singles final – after Pietrangeli (4 appearances), Francesca Schiavone (2), and de Stefani, Sara Errani, Panatta, Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci (all one).
Sunday is a big day for Italian sports fans as Berrettini takes to Centre Court a few hours before the Italian men’s football team play England in the Euros final at Wembley. Then, Berrettini will attempt to become the first Italian man to lift a Grand Slam singles winner’s trophy since Adriano Panatta became Roland-Garros champion 45 years ago.
Matteo Berrettini will face the winner of the semi-final between World No. 1 Novak Djokovic or 10th seeded lefty Denis Shapovalov.
