The Italian tennis player Matteo Berrettini granted an interview to Gio Journal where he spoke about all the current affairs of the tennis world and above all he highlighted how his beginnings in this sport were. Without a doubt, a very personal interview where he shows us where his love for professional tennis comes from.
– When he found out that he wanted to be a professional tennis player:
“I remember going to see the Masters 1000 in Rome when I was a child. I was trying to sneak into center court to see a Roger Federer match. I think that in that event and the experience of seeing the best players on the circuit compete were the reasons. which is why I am now a professional tennis player. Another reason is that my whole family plays tennis. They love this sport and even my grandparents still play it. Tennis is in our DNA. No one has ever been a professional tennis player, but love for it sport has always been there. “
– Childhood idol:
“I grew up watching Roger Federer and always cheering for him. I supported him as much as I could, watching him on television every time he played. Then I realized that I was playing the same tournament as him. So I couldn’t support him in the same way anymore. than before. I told this story to Roger because now we get along so well on the circuit. I think that’s why the first time we met on Center Court at Wimbledon he destroyed me, because I couldn’t believe I was still there. playing against my idol on one of the most iconic courts on tour. “
– Mix the tennis player’s life with his personal life:
“I didn’t label myself as a future tennis star when I was a teenager. So I lived as a normal teenager. I lived in Rome, I enjoyed life, but I never went out or did crazy things. I hung out with my friends. I wanted to be a tennis player and never felt like it. I was sacrificing nothing to be able to fight for my dreams. As I grew and got better, I began to realize what the whole life of the professional tennis player is like: spending 10 to 11 months going around the world. It takes a lot to get used to it Now I’m dating Tomljanovic, something that is positive because he understands me and knows the demands of the tour. My family also tries to travel with me on certain occasions. I don’t see them as much as I would like, but they are happy to see me enjoy this dream. ” .
– Your first title:
“It was in Gstaad and it was a crazy week. I went there without expecting to win the title. I think I lost my serve once in the whole tournament. I was playing the best tennis in all of 2018. It was a memorable week. I went there with a friend in place with my coach. Vincenzo stayed at home resting, and before the final he asked me if I wanted me to go to the game. I told him no, I had achieved this without him, so I was going to follow the same setup. It was superstition, It wasn’t that I didn’t want my coach to go. It was an incredible memory. That’s when I realized that I could stand out on the circuit. It was like the beginning of everything. “
– Who is the ambassador of tennis?
“Federer. I admire the example he sets and the time he spends playing tennis off the court. I feel like he understands that he has the power to have a much more significant impact on the world at large. Whether it’s doing some charity event or working hard. hard on the ATP Players Council. He uses the sport and its popularity to impact as many lives as he can in a very positive way. “
– Retired player you would like to have faced:
“I think it would be difficult to play against John McEnroe. Left-handed, talented and who played a lot on the net. I also would have liked to play against Adriano Panatta, a true legend of Italian tennis.”
– The complete tennis player:
Best player moving on the court: Novak Djokovic
Better right: I’ll keep mine (laughs). From the past I liked Sampras
Friendliest on the circuit: Roger Federer
Hardest player to defeat: Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal. They are the three greatest in tennis history.
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