‘I feel I’m getting closer to beating Novak Djokovic,’ says Matteo Berrettini

Beating Novak Djokovic in Grand Slams is ‘one of the toughest things you can ever do,’ according to Matteo Berrettini – but he thinks he is getting closer to it.

Berrettini withdrew from the 2021 Australian Open with injury, but Djokovic defeated him in all of the other three Grand Slams last season.

The most heartbreaking of those came at Wimbledon, where the Italian lost in the final.

He is in great form on grass again this year and considered to be one of the genuine contenders to win Wimbledon, but to win it he will likely have to find a way to beat Djokovic.

Explaining how he intends to make that happen, Berrettini said: “During my free time and even outside of my free time with my coach.

“We sat down and watched the matches to see what I did good and what I didn’t do so great.

“Beating him in a Slam is probably one of the toughest things you can ever do, you know,” said Berrettini who lost to Djokovic in Paris, London and New York last year.

“He won three Slams last year and made the finals in the fourth. So, it’s not easy to find a way.

“But one thing is for sure. Every time I play him, I feel I’m getting closer and closer because, obviously, the more you play against someone, the more you learn about them.

“And every time I play against these players, I’m improving, even if I lose the match. So, I think it’s about time I won.

“Last year was my first ever Grand Slam final. For him it was the 30th I think.

“It is a big thing but I don’t think there is something specific and I wouldn’t tell you [if there was] because then he would know!

“But jokes aside, I think, I’m not that far, but obviously I know that it’s not that easy.”

Matteo Berrettini will be be a top eight seed at the Championships, meaning the earliest he could face Novak Djokovic would be the quarter-finals.

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