by Matteo Berrettini has returned from injury with a bang and has won three titles this year.
The powerful Italian appears to be in no mood to stop now as he has his eyes on a fourth place finish in Vienna.
Matteo Berrettini played his part in an exciting duel with Frances Tiafoe on Wednesday.
After the American had match points in the second set tiebreak, he forced a deciding set to the delight of the Swiss crowd.
Almost 80 minutes after his first match points, the Italian claimed another and this time made no mistake, prevailing 6-3, 6-7, 6-3.
Matteo Berrettini says what surprises him most when reflecting on his career
The Italian was at the top when he played in the Wimbledon final just two years ago.
Berrettini was sidelined for six months in 2023, dealing with all sorts of issues and problems – problems that were reflected this year.
On his return in March, it took just a few weeks for him to claim his first title since 2022 in Morocco, before a frustrating combination of fitness and health problems led to the former Wimbledon finalist missing the French Open as well as the Masters events in Rome and Madrid missed.
On his return to Wimbledon he beat Jannik Sinner before winning two titles in a row in Gstaad and Kitzbühel.
Reflecting on some surprising career achievements, the Italian identified exactly what shocked him during his time on the tour.
“I would say I’m more surprised by my results on grass because I spent more time on clay as a kid,” Berrettini, who has four titles under his belt and a tour record of 42-11, told Tennis.com can demonstrate on lawns.
“I think as an 18-year-old I would be really proud of the journey we’ve been on. I got my first ATP point when I was 19 and my first ATP victory when I was 22. I was a little late, but my trip was really nice. A lot of good things happened along the way.”
Could Matteo Berrettini compete at the Australian Open?
If he stays healthy and in shape, he will likely be seeded in the tournament, which would give him a more favorable draw in the early rounds.
Berrettini’s big serve and heavy forehand are well suited to Melbourne’s hard courts, making him a tough opponent for anyone.
His previous experience of going deep in major tournaments and recent momentum show he has the ability to challenge the best players – as evidenced by his victories over Tiafoe, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
With determination and consistent play, Berrettini could be a serious contender.
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