Love of tennis behind revival of injury-plagued Berrettini
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Matteo Berrettini has won 10 ATP Tour titles By Bobbie Jackson BBC Sport Journalist Published 12 minutes ago A beaming Matteo Berrettini said tennis is the "love of my life" after reaching a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time in almost four years. Berrettini beat Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (8-6) to set up a French Open last-eight tie against Frances Tiafoe or Matteo Arnaldi. The Italian reached a career-high world number six in 2022 but has slipped to 105th in the rankings after being plagued by injuries and fitness problems. "[Tennis] is the love of my life, if it wasn't I wouldn't be here," Berrettini said. "After all the setbacks, all the injuries, all the bad moments, I came back once again. "There were moments where it was really tough to come back and play, because I wasn't ready and I wasn't sure about my confidence - now I feel great." Berrettini is the lowest-ranked Roland Garros quarter-finalist since Igor Andreev in 2007. Meet the new Rafa planning to conquer Roland Garros Published 3 hours ago Williams, 44, to return to action in Queen's doubles Published 2 hours ago 'Nobody knows me' - qualifier Chwalinska into last eight Published 3 hours ago Berrettini lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2021 Wimbledon final and was beaten in the Australian Open semi-finals the following January. His last Grand Slam quarter-final appearance was at the 2022 US Open, and he has missed six of the following 13 majors through injury. "There are so many players who are playing unbelievable tennis," said Berrettini. "Tennis is unpredictable. The field is pretty packed and I'm trying to give my best, I'm focusing on my game and I want to enjoy this win." Berrettini came through the longest match of his career in the previous round - saving two match points to win in five hours and 16 minutes - to signal injury issues might be a thing of the past. The 30-year-old showed no hangover from that performance during his encounter with Cerundolo, as he raced through the opening set and came through a tie-break in the second. Cerundolo threatened a fightback in the third when breaking for a 3-2 lead but Berrettini struck back for 5-5 and saved three match points before winning the tie-break. Auger-Aliassime enjoying 'dream' run Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Felix Auger-Aliassime has never previously gone beyond the fourth round at Roland Garros Felix Auger-Aliassime, a two-time US Open semi-finalist, used his experience to come through a potentially tricky tie against Alejandro Tabilo 6-3 7-5 6-1. In theory, Chile's Tablio should have been the fresher of the competitors, having spent about six hours less on court last week after being handed a walkover in round two. Canada's Auger-Aliassime started strongly, though, breaking at 3-1 before the remainder of the opening set stayed on serve. Tabilo had never previously gone beyond the third round at a Slam but raised his level in the seco
Matteo Berrettinis passion for tennis truly shines through in his comeback. Its a reminder that when you love your craft, anything is possible, even after setbacks.
Rafaels passion for tennis has truly revitalized the game, despite his battles with injury. His dedication is inspiring!
Rafaels passion for tennis is like a renewable energy source, keeping the game alive despite its occasional power outages from injuries. His dedication is a must-watch for anyone serious about the sports longevity.
Does Berrettinis passion for tennis truly drive his resilience, or is it the freedom to choose his own path that fuels his comeback?
Absolutely! Berrettinis dedication to his game is inspiring. When passion meets perseverance, the skys the limitjust like at the net!
While Berrettinis love for tennis is admirable, its crucial that he focuses on his physical well-being. Constantly pushing himself can take a toll on his long-term career. Lets hope he listens and takes the necessary steps to regain his peak form safely. #Tennis #ConservativeThoughts
Absolutely, its essential for athletes to prioritize their health. Berrettinis passion for the game is inspiring, but we must also ensure hes not risking long-term damage. May he find the right balance for both his career and wellbeing.