via Getty
2018 French Open Tennis Tournament – Rafael Nadal of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia while playing a tie break doubles exhibition match against Simone Halep of Romania and Alexander Zverev of Germany on Court Philippe Chatrier during a packed Children’s Day at Roland Garros before the start of the 2018 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on May 26th 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
via Getty
2018 French Open Tennis Tournament – Rafael Nadal of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia while playing a tie break doubles exhibition match against Simone Halep of Romania and Alexander Zverev of Germany on Court Philippe Chatrier during a packed Children’s Day at Roland Garros before the start of the 2018 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on May 26th 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Italian tennis player Matteo Berrettini has impressed one and all lately. He has been beating players regularly on the Tour and has been performing well on various surfaces, displaying his versatility. However, if there is one department Berrettini needs to work on is that he needs to find a way to beat players like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal at the Grand Slam events.
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Rafael Nadal beat Matteo Berrettini in Melbourne today
Today, the Italian was involved in his second meeting against Nadal in a Grand Slam tournament. He lost the match in four sets and was completely outplayed by the 2009 champion of the Australian Open. Earlier, Matteo had lost another semi to Rafa at the 2019 US Open.
Read more: ‘Stopped Thinking Too Much’: Aryna Sabalenka Reflects on Tricky R1 Win at Australian Open 2022
After the match, Matteo was reminded that the losses he has suffered at the Majors over the past 12 months have only been at the hands of Djokovic and now Nadal. To which he said, “It makes me feel like it’s time to beat them.”
Just asked Matteo Berrettini how it feels that his only losses in Grand Slams in the last year have been against Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) January 28, 2022
"It makes me feel like it's time to beat them", he said. #AusOpen
Over the past year, Berrettini faced the Serbian machine thrice at the Grand Slams. First, he was up against him in Paris and lost the match in four sets at the French Open.
Following that, he played brilliantly during the Wimbledon Championships and reached his first final at the Majors. Sadly, he faced Djokovic again in the final who went on to win his 20th Grand Slam title.
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 28, 2022 Italy’s Matteo Berrettini reacts during his semi final match against Spain’s Rafael Nadal REUTERS/Loren Elliott
At the US Open, he drew the World No. 1 player in the quarterfinal. There was a glimpse of optimism after Matteo claimed the opening set. However, he was outplayed in the next three sets.
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It is just a matter of time before Berrettini starts beating these guys at the majors. Speaking of it, to beat any member from the big three is a mammoth of a task (which he hasn’t managed so far against either of the three). We wish him all the best for the future.
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