Tennis News

Berrettini's Wimbledon Final 11 Years In The Making: Coaches’ Corner

Italian star Matteo Berrettini has broken new ground at Wimbledon this year. The 25-year-old overcame 14th seed Hubert Hurkacz to reach his first Grand Slam final on Friday.

If Berrettini can upset five-time champion Novak Djokovic on Centre Court, he will complete one of his dream goals, and there will be one man in particular, coach Vincenzo Santopadre, who will be bursting with pride.

Santopadre has worked alongside Berrettini as his coach for 11 years, helping the World No. 9 win five tour-level titles and develop into the player he has become today. It is a deep-rooted relationship, built on respect and admiration, with the Italian duo like family.

Ahead of Sunday’s final, ATPTour.com caught up with Santopadre about his work with Berrettini and the key behind their success.

How special has it been for you to watch Matteo reach his first Grand Slam final?
It is a dream, it is unreal, it is a lot to process. But I told him after, that I think if he can play like this, he can win Wimbledon. It is a dream that can come true. The unbelievable thing, which I told him after the match when we met, it was a real surprise.

You have been working with Matteo for more than a decade, so how much more emotional does that make this achievement for you?
It is unbelievable. We grew up together. Everyone in the team – me, the physio, the trainer, the mental coach – we have been working with Matteo for 11 years. It is a long time, it is special. I still had hair when I started working with him and I don’t know if it is the passing of the years as to why I have lost my hair or because of watching him play every match! I was so young, and he was a child, and now, I am not yet an old man, but he grew, and is a man. It is something really special because we have spent a lot of time together, so many years.

This is a very big moment for him, so how difficult will it be for him to block that pressure out and get him to treat this like any other match?
On Friday after his victory, I asked him, and I spoke to the mental coach. The mental coach said he was tight and felt the pressure. But we really think this is normal. A player has to feel the pressure, of course. It is not easy to turn it around to make it a positive vibe, and positive adrenaline, but he is able to do this. He is able to feel the pressure and with the passing of the points, he is always able to get into the match and it is something that is unbelievable. The match he played on Friday, he showed great power, dominating the court.

Ajla [Tomljanovic] told us that Matteo’s game is great, but that his mentality is even better. How much has he improved that over the years?
The key to his career is that he is always trying to improve. He is working to be better day by day. He is not missing any shots in training and has improved much more than everybody expected, me and him too. No one could say two or three years ago that he was going to become such a champion.

For me, you are a champion when you are able to work to be better and able to work like he does. He knows everything. He is aware he gave a big part of his life to be better, and it is not only about natural talent but work [ethic] too. He is a champion. I want to be humble, but the message is that Matteo can be a role model.

From all the years you have spent together, what is the best decision you have made with Matteo’s game?
We were able to build a complete player. In my opinion, a lot of coaches try to specialise players too soon when they are young. Instead, when Matteo was young, aged 14, 15, 16 years-old, we wanted to build a player who could play on every surface. We wanted him to be able to play attacking and defensive tennis, have every shot, such as a backhand slice. I think he is a complete player.

Source link

Ashleigh Barty vs Karolina Pliskova Wimbledon 2021 Final Preview and Prediction

It will be a contrast of styles in the Ladies Final at Wimbledon on Saturday with Ashleigh Barty seeking her second grand…

Source link

Wimbledon 2021: Harriet Dart and Joe Salisbury reach mixed doubles final

British pair Harriet Dart and Joe Salisbury reach the final of the mixed doubles at Wimbledon.

Source link

Shapovalov: ‘Now I Know Exactly What I'm Capable Of… And What To Improve'

Denis Shapovalov went toe-to-toe with the best player in the world for nearly three hours on Friday at Wimbledon, but he walked off Centre Court with tears in his eyes after Novak Djokovic edged through their semi-final battle in straight sets. 

The Canadian had been growing in confidence throughout the fortnight, and he battled past two-time champion Andy Murray as well as eighth seed Roberto Bautista Agut and 25th seed Karen Khachanov to clinch his best Grand Slam result to date.

But up against World No. 1 Djokovic, who is going for his third consecutive Wimbledon crown, he came up just short in the decisive moments. He let 10 of his 11 break opportunities slip by, and although he served well, he was broken once toward the tail end of each set as Djokovic powered to a 7-6(3), 7-5, 7-5 victory.

“I think what hurt so much this time was just that I felt like the game is there and it’s possible to go and play for the trophy,” Shapovalov said afterwards. “It’s a feeling I’ve never had before, so that’s why it just hurt so much. I felt like I was outplaying Novak in parts of the match. If you’re outplaying Novak, you can beat anyone. 

“It just hurt a lot…  It’s been a lot of pressure, a lot of mental fatigue. Like, it all kind of spilled out on the court before I could control myself.”

For Shapovalov, the sting of victory was still tempered by the many positives – after all, the 10th seed was contesting his first Grand Slam semi-final at 22 years old. He backed up a career-best grass-court swing that saw him reach his first tour-level semi-final on his favourite surface at The Queen’s Club in the build up to Wimbledon. And he will return to his career-high ranking of World No. 10 as a result when the new FedEx ATP Rankings are published on Monday.

A sterling effort in just his 10th singles match at #Wimbledon

No doubt we’ll be seeing plenty more of @denis_shapo on this stage in the future… pic.twitter.com/TnMlEIBAtf

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2021

But most importantly, the lefty shotmaker has proven – to the world, and to himself – that he has what it takes to challenge the players at the top of the FedEx ATP Rankings.

“It’s almost good to have a little bit of a taste, because it just makes me want it that much more going into the next Slams and into the future,” he said. “Now I know exactly what I’m capable of and where my game can be at. Also the things that I can improve, too, to beat Novak next time or go one step further.”

Proving it on the court is one thing. But it also helps to hear it from the World No. 1 himself. Shapovalov revealed that after seeing his emotions after the match, Djokovic came up to him in the locker room and offered him words of encouragement.

View Schedule | Listen To Radio Wimbledon | List Of Broadcasters (PDF)

“He just told me he knows how difficult it is for me right now,” Shapovalov said. “He told me that everything will come. For me, it’s big coming from someone like him. He doesn’t have to do this. It just shows the type of person he is. It’s just really nice for someone like me to hear from him.

“I have tremendous respect for him. He’s definitely for sure one of the greatest players of all time. It’s awesome to hear those words from him.”

Source link

Djokovic On Potentially Tying Grand Slam Record: ‘It Would Mean Everything’

History awaits Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s Wimbledon final, when he will try to tie Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles. And the World No. 1 left no doubt Friday evening following his semi-final victory that he is excited for the opportunity.

“It would mean everything. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I’m playing. I imagined myself being in a position to fight for another Grand Slam trophy prior to coming to London. I put myself in a very good position,” said Djokovic, who will play Matteo Berrettini for the trophy. “Anything is possible in the final. Obviously experience is on my side. But Berrettini has been winning a lot of matches on grass courts this year, winning Queen’s.

“He’s in great form. He’s serving big, playing big. So it’s going to be a very tough match I think for both of us, but I’m looking forward to a great battle.”

The Serbian superstar had to claw through a tough battle against Denis Shapovalov in the semi-finals. Djokovic emerged victorious in straight sets, but each set was a nail-biter against the free-swinging Canadian.

The top seed saved 10 of the 11 break points he faced, which proved critical. The difference in the match was Djokovic’s performance under pressure.

“I don’t think you’re born with it. I think it comes with time, with experience, with mental and physical work obviously,” Djokovic said of his mental fortitude in key moments. “The more matches you play and the more times you’re in these similar situations, the more confident or more comfortable you feel every next time you get to face these particular circumstances where you’re a break point down or playing in [the] final stages [of a] Grand Slam against [your] top rivals.

“I think that experience definitely favours me every single time. Next time I get to walk on the court, [I] know that I’ve been through everything that I could possibly go through as a tennis player. I know my strengths. I know what I’m capable of. I rely on that.”

The 34-year-old has long discussed his love affair with Wimbledon and how as a child he dreamt of competing in and winning the tournament. Now he has another opportunity to play on Centre Court with history on the line. Whether or not he has the crowd’s support, he will be focused on the task at hand.

“Every player hopes in big matches, coming into big stadiums, that he’s going to have a majority of the crowd behind him. Having the crowd behind you, against you, it’s a big difference,” Djokovic said. “Berrettini, [this being] his first time in a Grand Slam final, he’s kind of an underdog there. People also like to see someone win who is an underdog or is not maybe expected to win, is not the favourite to win.

“But hopefully people can also recognise the importance of this match for me, the history that is on the line. I’m prepared for anything really that is going to happen in terms of the crowd support on Sunday. I’ve had many different experiences throughout my career. I just need to focus on myself and what I need to do.”

Djokovic knows that Berrettini brings plenty of firepower to the court, and that the Italian will be hungry for his first major triumph. But with everything at stake, the Serbian will be ready.

“It’s [the] final. It’s really anybody’s game,” Djokovic said. “He’s arguably the guy who has been in the best form on grass courts this year, winning Queen’s. He’s red hot. It’s going to be a great battle.”

Source link

Wimbledon 2021: Semi-final showdowns, epic rallies & best-dressed Beckham – day 11 best bits

Watch the best bits from day 11 of Wimbledon including men’s semi-final victories for Novak Djokovic and Matteo Berrettini, plus David Beckham turning on the style.

Source link

Wimbledon 2021: Andy Lapthorne and David Wagner win quad wheelchair doubles title

Andy Lapthorne wins a second Wimbledon quad wheelchair doubles title as he and David Wagner beat Dylan Alcott and Sam Schroder.

Source link

Wimbledon 2021: Novak Djokovic overcomes Denis Shapovalov in straight sets to reach final

Watch highlights as Serbia’s Novak Djokovic books his place in the final at Wimbledon after beating Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in straight sets.

Source link

Berrettini On Italy's Super Sunday: 'I Want To Get The Trophy Now'

When Matteo Berrettini held aloft the solid silver cinch Championships trophy three weeks ago, BBC television presenter Sue Barker pointed out that he was the first debutant at The Queen’s Club to lift the trophy since Boris Becker in 1985. The Italian could only smile.

“Maybe he stepped into Wimbledon and he thought about making the final,” said Berrettini on Friday. “I didn’t think like that. I knew I could do it, but I didn’t think I [was] going to do it, because that is how I am. I took every step really careful and slowly. I guess it was the right thing to do.”

Today, Berrettini is riding an 11-match winning streak on grass and is one victory away from following in the footsteps of the 17-year-old German wunderkind, who went on to lift the Wimbledon title for the first time. “Obviously the job is not done yet,” said Berrettini. “I want to get the trophy now that I’m here. But it’s just [a] really unbelievable feeling.”

On Friday, the 25-year-old became the first Italian man to reach a Grand Slam final since Adriano Panatta won the 1976 Roland Garros crown, following a 6-3, 6-0, 6-7(3), 6-4 over Polish 14th seed Hubert Hurkacz.

“I’m just so happy for everything,” said Berrettini, who has been in regular contact with Panatta. “My year started in a good way, [by helping Italy reach] the ATP Cup final. Then I got injured again. I kind of saw those ghosts again of my body kind of struggling. Again, I came back stronger. I think I fully deserve to be here. I want to enjoy [it] like I did today.”

Berrettini is up to third position in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin for one of eight singles spots at the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held at the Pala Alpitour from 14-21 November. Since returning from a hernia/groin injury in mid-April, Berrettini has compiled a 24-4 match record, including the Serbia Open title in Belgrade (d. Karatsev) and a runner-up finish in his first ATP Masters 1000 final at the Mutua Madrid Open (l. to Zverev).

The charismatic World No. 9 is now hoping that it will be a ‘Super Sunday’ for Italy when he competes in the Wimbledon final and the football team challenges England for the European Championship title.

“Hopefully, whoever’s going to win, they’re going to support me — I hope,” said Berrettini, looking ahead to playing World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. “It’s going to be a great atmosphere. My first final in Wimbledon. It’s just crazy to think about it.

“It’s [a] great day, [a] great sports day. I’m really happy that, together with football now, we are one of the biggest sports in Italy.”

View Monday’s Schedule | Listen To Radio Wimbledon | List Of Broadcasters (PDF)

Berrettini, who with his brother, Jacopo, always dreamed of playing in a big final, has got his wish.

“When we were kids, we were going holiday, we were always bringing our racquets,” said Berrettini. “We played so many times, even without the ball, just pretending we were playing in our living room [in] a great final. We were pretending to be players that now I’m playing against.

“I couldn’t, unfortunately, for bubble reasons, meet them. I saw them from far away. My brother, I never saw him like that. He couldn’t believe it. That’s where we’re coming from. That’s my family. That’s our passion… Tennis is in my family. My grandparents are still playing. It’s something we have in DNA, and it makes me feel so good to have them here.”

Source link

Hurkacz: 'Matteo Played An Unbelievable Match'

In tennis, an opponent is sometimes simply too good on the day. According to Hubert Hurkacz, who fell short at Wimbledon against Matteo Berrettini in his first Grand Slam semi-final, that was the case on Friday.

“Matteo played [an] unbelievable match today. Huge congrats to him. Every single service game, he was serving bombs. I didn’t have many chances, basically zero,” Hurkacz said. “Huge congrats for him that he kept such a high level throughout the whole four sets. He played really well.”

The 24-year-old beat second seed Daniil Medvedev and eight-time champion Roger Federer earlier in the tournament, and in the second half of the match against Berrettini he found some of his best tennis again to put pressure on the Italian. But the seventh seed had too much firepower for the Pole to deal with.

“He was putting a lot of pressure on me. My first serve really wasn’t helping me, which usually [it] does and [it] gets me out of trouble. I was struggling with that,” Hurkacz said. “Plus he was putting a lot of pressure on me and he was playing really amazing without [making] any unforced errors. I wasn’t playing great at that time, but he was putting a lot of pressure.”

Berrettini crushed 60 winners to just 18 unforced errors, an incredible ratio, especially with a spot in the Wimbledon final on the line. Hurkacz had won 81 per cent of his first-serve points en route to the semi-finals at the All England Club. But on Friday, he only managed to claim 68 per cent of points behind his first delivery.

“I was trying to stay competitive,” Hurkacz said. “And fight for every single point, especially at the beginning of the third set to try to make a comeback.”

Hurkacz did well to win the third set in a tie-break and add tension to the clash. But Berrettini raised his level again to make his first major championship match, in which he will play World No. 1 Novak Djokovic or 10th seed Denis Shapovalov.

“If he continues to play like this, he has a really big chance in the final,” Hurkacz said.

The Miami champion leaves London without a trophy, but with an important experience to look back on in the future. Entering the tournament, he was on a six-match losing streak and had never advanced to the second week at a Grand Slam. Now the three-time ATP Tour titlist knows he is capable of making a deep run at this level.

“Obviously playing in front of this amazing crowd, this was such a pleasure,” Hurkacz said. “I enjoyed to play, especially playing [in the] semi-finals, playing a super big match. So [I am] super happy to [have] experienced that.”

Source link