Love of Tennis Fuels Berrettini's Remarkable Grand Slam Comeback at Roland Garros

Matteo Berrettini declared tennis the “love of my life” after reaching a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time in almost four years, completing a remarkable return to the sport’s upper echelons that few thought possible when injuries threatened to end his career.

The Italian, who has slipped to 105th in the world rankings after years plagued by fitness problems, beat Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (8-6) to set up a French Open last-eight meeting against either Frances Tiafoe or Matteo Arnaldi.

Berrettini reached a career-high world number six in 2022, the year after losing to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final and following a run to the Australian Open semi-finals. But his career trajectory stalled dramatically, with the 30-year-old missing six of the next 13 majors through injury.

“After all the setbacks, all the injuries, all the bad moments, I came back once again,” Berrettini said. “There were moments where it was really tough to come back and play, because I wasn’t ready and I wasn’t sure about my confidence. Now I feel great.”

His last Grand Slam quarter-final appearance came at the 2022 US Open, making his current run in Paris all the more remarkable. Berrettini is now the lowest-ranked Roland Garros quarter-finalist since Igor Andreev in 2007, a statistic that underscores the scale of his resurgence.

The Italian came through the longest match of his career in the previous round, saving two match points in a five-hour-and-16-minute epic that appeared to signal injury problems might finally be behind him. Against Cerundolo, there was no sign of fatigue as Berrettini raced through the opening set and edged two tight tie-breaks to seal victory.

“There are so many players who are playing unbelievable tennis,” Berrettini added. “Tennis is unpredictable. The field is pretty packed, and I’m trying to give my best. I’m focusing on my game, and I want to enjoy this win.”

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced with a 6-3 7-5 6-1 victory over Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, while tenth seed Flavio Cobolli overcame American Zachary Svajda 6-2 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-5) to set up a quarter-final meeting with the Canadian.

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