Berrettini: ‘My Level Is Growing’
Seventh-seeded Italian Matteo Berrettini was focused on the bigger picture, believing his game is on the right path for future success after his four-set defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final on Sunday.
“The most important thing for me is that right now I'm losing against the best players in the world. In Paris, I lost against him [Djokovic], and he won the tournament,” Berrettini said. “In Queen's, I won, and then I lost against him again here. It means that my level is growing. It means my weapons and my tennis, in general, is growing. That's the right path. That's the right thing that I'm doing.
“It means that I'm there. It means that I deserve to be here. Today, again, Novak was the better player on court, but I'm getting closer. Every match that I'm playing against them helps me to get closer.”
Berrettini came into the contest on the back of an 11-match winning streak after winning the cinch Championships in London in June.
The 25-year-old became the first Italian man to reach a Grand Slam final since Adriano Panatta won the 1976 Roland Garros title. The 2019 US Open semi-finalist feels the experience of the last month can only help him in the future.
“I just need matches like this. I just need experiences like this,” Berrettini said. “That's what we said to my team. Obviously, also this kind of anger, disappointment that I have now, it's really helpful, is going to be helpful for the next events.
“Obviously for me, it's been unbelievable two weeks. I won Queen's. I didn't expect to win there. I reached the finals here. But I know that I can do it. I know that I can win this title.
“I'm not sure if I'm going to do it, but I know I can do it. So that's what I'm going to do in the next weeks, in the next months and years: try to lift the trophy.”
After falling 2-5 behind in the first set, Berrettini rallied, saving a set point to claim the opener and lead the World No. 1. However, he could not keep Djokovic at bay.
While he was slightly disappointed with his performance level overall on Centre Court, he praised the Serbian's ability to make it difficult for him.
“Obviously now I'm disappointed because I lost, because I think I didn't play my best match,” Berrettini admitted. “But I have to say it's thanks to Novak in a way that he brought me, made me play in this way. That's his strength probably. That's why he's one of the best that ever did.
“I would say tactic-wise, he's probably the best player together with Roger. He's studying your game, and then he is kind of adjusting during the match. It's not something really easy to do.
“He played his 30th final today and I played my first one. He knew how to handle all the feelings and emotions that he had. This is something that it's normal. That's why I said I need matches like this. Congrats to him.”