Wimbledon: Matteo Berrettini struggles but not enough, Carlos Alcaraz wins

The performance is top-notch, but against No. 1 it is not enough.

Matteo Berrettini leaves Wimbledon, eliminated in the round of 16 by a Carlos Alcaraz whom the Roman manages to make life difficult for only one set. In fact, it ends 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, after more than three hours of battle. For the Spaniard, the quarterfinal against Holger Rune is now scheduled.

Berrettini, fresh from successes against Sonego, De Minaur and Zverev, experiences a dream start on the grass of Wimbledon by winning the first set after nullifying two break points to Alcaraz already in the opening game and then snatching his serve at the end of the eighth game. He came close to another break in the opening game of the second set, this time surrendering it to his opponent for the decisive 3-1 lead. More painful was the break worth 2-1 in the third set, obtained by Alcaraz at the sixth break ball. More linear, on the other hand, is the last set, also characterized by only one service game lost by Berrettini, who yields only at 5-3.

Berrettini had come to the challenge against Alcaraz after a dream Wimbledon, but also a year in which problems were not lacking. Indeed, he was aware of the difficulty of the challenge, even in the moments just after his victory over Zverev. “I think I can’t say anything about him,” the Roman had said then. “The last time I faced him was two years ago, and in the meantime he has won so much. I think I will enjoy every single minute of our challenge. I will do it step by step, point by point, but I will finally be able to catch my breath tomorrow. I want to recover the best I can to face Carlos on Monday.”