ROLAND GARROS

June 1, 2026

Matteo Berrettini

Press Conference

M. BERRETTINI/J.M. Cerundolo

6-3, 7-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Matteo. What does it mean for you to reach the quarterfinal here in Roland Garros?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I think you could see the celebration after the match. I was pumped, happy, and again, grateful. Really tough match.

I just fought through, especially in the third set. You know, I was down a break, and 6-3 down in the breaker. So I was able to get the win in straight sets, which is great, and I think a really high-level tennis overall. I'm really happy and proud of myself.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Given everything you have been through, all the injuries, setbacks, when you get a win like that at this at this level, does it make it sweeter? Could you give us the insight? Is that why we saw the emotion when you won, do you think?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, it does make it sweeter, because I actually remember now how sad I was, and now I'm so...

I'm not surprised, but I just proved to myself, once again, that I could do it, that even in the toughest moment, like, I just found the energy.

I was lucky enough to have people around me that helped me to find the kind of energy, to find the positive vibes, the positive thoughts, which is not easy to find, you know, when you're in the darkness a little bit, when things are not coming your way, and you're struggling just to hit few balls or just struggling to compete.

That's why I feel like this, because from the very first point until the last, I was there, I was enjoying, I was talking good to myself. This is what tennis means this for me, like, being pumped, happy, and ready to compete.

Q. Congrats on a great win. You had so many injuries. Do you play differently in any way to protect your body a little bit, or do you play still 100% risk on every shot? Or did you change something?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: We tried to figure it out, you know, like if there was something, that was, like, actually make me struggle a little bit. The reality is that if there was something, then it would have been all the time, you know, every serve or every shot that I hit.

So the reality is that this is a really high, demanding sport, physically and mentally. I think it's one of the toughest sport out there, considering the conditions, the traveling, everything together, the amount of hours that we practice and we train and we play, and everything together.

So I just got to the conclusion that, you know, my body is used, as is normal. Some people, they have, I don't know, just a smoother way to play. I just have a really strong way of playing, but I accepted it. This is who I am.

The key was actually finding the confidence to go 100% every single shot like I did. I think that's what made me successful was that I was, you know, like, hitting the ball hard and with a lot of weight on the ball.

That's why, I think, my serve and my forehand, obviously, are the biggest weapons that I have and finding the 100% is the solution for feeling like I felt today.

Q. You may have to face a compatriot in the next round. How would you approach that match? Would you rather not?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: They are playing now. He won the first, and I wish him best of luck. He also came back after a tough injury on his foot, you know, like, he wasn't able to play the way he wanted to for a long time.

So he's such a great competitor. We shared the court also in Davis Cup together, so I wish him the best.

When you're playing for yourself, it doesn't really matter who you're playing. Of course, if you're playing a fellow Italian, it's a little bit trickier. But it's part of the game, it's part of what we do. We used to do that, as well.

Luckily it's happening a lot on tour in the best stages. Flavio is in the quarterfinals, as well. Obviously we have Jannik, Lorenzo Musetti, and Darderi. Everybody's playing unbelievable tennis. So it's just good for the sport. It's just good for Italian tennis.

If he's going to win today, we're going to be sure that one Italian is going to be in the semis, so it's good for the Italian fans.