"Berrettini knows how to play very well, he reached the final at Wimbledon. It will be a tough, difficult match, I saw him and he played well. I can't tell you who is worse than him, but the draw is like that and it's also useless to comment. I expect a very tough match, a little different because he serves well and it's the surface where he plays best. I want to take it as a challenge to see where my level is, to see how I'm playing. I only have one precedent, we played in Toronto. We know each other quite well, just as we don't know each other that well. He started winning straight away on grass."
With these words shared at the press conference, Jannik Sinner analyzed the challenge that awaits him in the 2nd round of Wimbledon against his countryman Matteo Berrettini. Jannik's debut at the Championships as ATP No.2 was perhaps more complicated than expected, but the young Italian managed to beat Yannick Hanfmann in four sets, who created real headaches for the winner of the Australian Open, especially in the 2nd and 3rd set. The challenge with Berrettini in the 2nd round of Wimbledon will be really difficult for both: if Matteo has the right day, on grass-courts he is a danger for anyone.
Right on the eve of their match, the two Italians had fun - to ease the tension - playing soccer, showing unexpected skills and a fair amount of talent!
Berrettini qualified for the 2nd round of Wimbledon by beating Marton Fucsovics in 4 sets and overcoming some back problems. In the post match interview, the Italian spoke about the challenge with Sinner and the problems he had with his back, analyzing:
"I was good at managing a physical problem and not a tennis one, I started to feel a problem with my back and I got scared, this thing made me leave the match. It's my fault, or rather the injuries that made me go down a lot in the rankings. Tennis is like that and the draw is a random thing, you have to accept it. I knew it could happen and I don't think he's very happy either. The only wish I can make is that this is the last time Jannik and I meet in this round, and I hope we can meet more and more later in the tournaments of the Grand Sla. I know well the draw that awaits me and I will watch Sinner's challenge, he can't do better than this but I don't think he'll be happy to have me so close."
