Wimbledon, Berrettini faces Sinner

There is one certainty, the challenge between Matthew Berrettini And Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon, no one would like to see her in the second round. Acceptable in the quarterfinals, in the semifinals or maybe in the final, seen so soon it becomes a fratricidal clash. And the players know it too. It was clear from the moment the scoreboard was drawn that the crossover was possible and close. Now it seems too close. The second round of the London Slam will see Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini, winners in their debut in the tournament, face each other. number 1 in the world got the better of the German Yannick Hanfmann in four sets. Berrettini also won in four sets against the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics. These results led to the derby of this Wednesday, July 3rd which will knock out either the world number one or the 2021 finalist from Wimbledon.

What everyone hopes to see is a good match. First of all, the players. Jannik Sinner said it right away at the end of the first round match: «I am very happy to have reached the second round. It was complicated today, he pushed a lot and played very well at times. Now I hope to raise my level of play for the next outing. It will be tough against Matteo Berrettini: he reached the final here and knows how to play well on grass. But every match, I repeat, is different from the others: it will certainly be a great challenge”.

At ATP level, Sinner is undefeated against Italians. The second round of Wimbledon will be the second time in their careers that Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini face each other in an ATP tournament. The only precedent dates back to last year, at the Masters 1000 in Torontowon by the South Tyrolean who is 5 years younger than Berrettini: 28 for the Roman, 23 in August for Sinner. Compared to a year ago, there is no talk of Berrettini’s partner, Melissa Satta is no longer at his side, but of Sinner’s first public girlfriend, Anna Kalinskayacolleague also engaged on the grass of Wimbledon. Compared to a year ago Sinner is number one in the world and winner of a Slam, it is also known, always after 12 months, the closeness between the two who are undoubtedly the best Italians for results in a lifetime to this part. There was advice and mutual support and that Davis Cup party that all Italian fans want to see again soon with Sinner and Berrettini next to each other, not facing each other.

There is no awe on the part of Matteo Berrettini. “Do I think I can beat him? Well, yes. Otherwise I shouldn’t go out on the court and change profession. Then obviously I know I will have to do something very very good, because he is the number 1 in the world and he is doing incredible things. I know I will have to play one of my best matches. But for me this is a special place so I will enter the court knowing that I can hurt him, tennis-wise.. Then from a tactical point of view I don’t have many secrets: my game is based on certain things and I will have to do them as best as possible. He has improved a lot, but we live and train for these matches. I think he is not very happy either: I played a final here and won a few titles on grass, he has to play against an Italian – which is never easy – and the last time we played against it was a good match, tough. In my opinion in the end we are “unhappy” even, even if he obviously arrives in better shape and with something more. But tennis is also beautiful for this reason».

Wimbledon is live exclusively on Sky Sports and streaming on NOW until July 14. The match will be visible on Sky Sport Tennis (channel 203) and Sky Sport Arena (channel 204), but also in live streaming on NOW.