Matteo Berrettini daydreams: ‘I have chills’

“These moments are really worth living.”

Matteo Berrettini will represent Europe along with Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas in what will be the fifth edition of the Laver Cup, certainly,to date, the most meaningful one. London’s O2 Arena will indeed be the scene of the last professional match of Roger Federer, one of the living legends of tennis. The Swiss champion will play doubles with Rafa Nadal, an opponent of many memorable challenges.

Called to replace King Roger himself for the singles match to be played on Saturday, Berrettini did not hide his excitement at sharing with the ‘elite’ of modern tennis such an experience. “In my opinion I still have to realize well what is happening. It’s too good to be true. But in the end I think I have deserved it, the efforts and sacrifices of these years have led me to be here, beyond playing or not,” he began to the microphones of Eurosport.

“I have never hidden the fact that Federer has been my idol since childhood. He is one of the reasons I chose to be a professional tennis player. Being here gives me chills. I mean, these moments are really worth living. It’s crazy, I never thought I could be next to them and share these moments,” he continued.

“They – he is referring to the Fab Four, all of whom were present in London – talk to me as if I were one of them, it has a strange effect on me. At the same time I have to realize that it is so and try to give my best. I’m trying to learn and learn so much from them, because these kinds of opportunities don’t come so often in life,” he concluded.