ATP Tour

Berrettini reaches Roland Garros QFs: 'After all the setbacks, I came back once again'

Matteo Berrettini brought an end to Juan Manuel Cerundolo’s impressive run on Monday at Roland Garros, where the Italian marked a valiant return to the quarter-finals of a major for the first time since 2022.

The former No. 6 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Berrettini held firm to prevail 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-6(6) over Cerundolo, who had made headlines for stunning World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the second round. Competing in his first Roland Garros since 2021 after a series of injury setbacks, Berrettini is now into his seventh major quarter-final.

“This [tennis] is the love of my life, because if it wasn’t I wouldn’t be here,” Berrettini said in his on-court interview. “After all the setbacks, all the injuries, all the bad moments, I came back once again. There were moments where it was really tough to go back and hit the ball, because I wasn’t ready and sure of my confidence.”

Cerundolo earned consecutive five-set wins over Sinner and #NextGenATP Martin Landaluce, but the Argentine World No. 56 was unable to back those up against Berrettini. The Italian, despite having to rally from a break down in the third, was almost untouchable on serve, winning 84 per cent (64/76) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys Stats.

Competing as the World No. 105, Berrettini is the lowest-ranked man to reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros since No. 125 Igor Andreev in 2007. The Italian will next meet countryman Matteo Arnaldi, who overcame 19th seed Frances Tiafoe 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 in a late-night thriller.

Berrettini, who saved two match points against Francisco Comesana in the third round, is the only major finalist remaining in the top half of the draw, having advanced to the Wimbledon title tilt in 2021.

With his run in Paris so far, Berrettini has risen 58 spots to No. 47 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He is seeking a return to the Top 50 for the first time since July last year.