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Matteo Berrettini US Open 2022
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‘I don’t know how I did it’ – Matteo Berrettini fights through to first final in Italy


Matteo Berrettini has battled through not just his opponent but also injury to reach the final of the ATP 250 Napoli Cup. 

The world number 16 looked in trouble as he fell 5-0 behind against Mackenzie McDonald, surrendering the set 6-3. Foot problems troubled Berrettini before he somehow managed to claim victory 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3. The tournament second seed is now into a fourth final of the season and his first in Italy in his career.

“I actually don’t even know how I did it,” Berrettini admitted. “I wasn’t feeling very good. I had asked for the physio because my foot was hurting. Hopefully for tomorrow I’m going to be ready. But like has happened so many times in my career I fought through so many things that are not just thinking about a tennis ball.

“Some stuff about my body. But I didn’t want to retire. My team told me ‘I think you should stop’ and I was like ‘no, I want to lose this match.’ I’m tired of retiring. So I tried and at the end I found a way so I’m really happy.”

With the win Matteo Berrettini bolsters his chances of appearing in Turin for the ATP Finals. If he qualifies it would be his third appearance at the elite event. Next in Naples he will face Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic or compatriot Lorenzo Musetti in the final. Berrettini is in pursuit of his third tour-level title of the season after success on the grass in Stuttgart and at Queen’s in June.

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