ATP Naples, Berrettini thanks audience: ‘Had I not been in Italy, I would not have finished the match’

Berrettini prevailed over McDonald despite physical problems

Matteo Berrettini spoke after his success in the semifinals of the ATP 250 tournament in Naples over Mackenzie McDonald of the United States in three sets: 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3.

The Roman, who came out on top despite a blistering problem, spoke to the press after the match, “I thought a lot about retiring, my foot really hurt. I put a ‘pillow’ to not feel the pain. The hardest thing is to concentrate and not think about the foot. I am tired of retiring, tired of the physical problems. I tried to go to the end and it went well.”

“I have to say that the conditions at the beginning were quite different, he was playing very well, he was taking my time, he was responding a lot, I was putting few firsts and so he was giving me a hard time. I was finding my way and the pain in my foot started. Then I found the key, played with a little more trajectory and served better. In the end the key was playing aggressive,” continued the finalist at Wimbledon 2021.

Finally, a thank you to the audience in Naples: “If I had not played in Italy I would have neither finished nor won the match, so I have to say thank you to the audience, to my team, to my family. I wanted to do well. Retreat was not an option, I have one day to recover: you give everything.”