Matteo Berrettini reached the US Open quarter-finals with a five-set victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

New York (AFP) – Matteo Berrettini said the fear factor helped him qualify for the US Open quarter-finals, as his impressive Grand Slam results continued on Sunday.[expander_maker id=”1″ ]

The 13th seed from Roma defeated 26-year-old Spaniard Alejandro Davidovic Fokina 3-6, 7-6 (7-6), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 to set up a quarter-final match against Norway’s Casper Ruud. .

This was Berrettini’s latest strong showing in a singles event at the Grand Slam.

Although the Italian had to miss the French Open (injury) and Wimbledon (Covid-19) this year, Berrettini had been performing well in the Grand Slams leading up to those events.

He reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open earlier this year, and in 2021 reached the quarter-finals of the US Open as well as the Wimbledon final and the French Open quarter-finals.
On Sunday, Brittini said his results show he fits the requirements of a Grand Slam tennis tournament.

“It’s no secret to me that the slams are the goal of the season,” he said.

“I think it proves that my level is high in the slams, I’m really strong, I like to play better than five and play the best tennis in the most important stages of the tour.”

Brittney added that fear of failure was driving his success.

“I think fear is part of my life and profession,” he said. “Fear is a big driver, it’s something that helps me get up in the morning and achieve goals.

“Without fear I would not be here. I always say when I am not upset, when I am not afraid of losing, I am never satisfied.”

After his semi-final run in Australia this year, hand surgery kept Brittney out of the French Open. He then withdrew from Wimbledon after testing positive for Covid-19 in June.

“I was sick, I already had a high fever. I felt like all my bones were broken,” he said.

“Now it is clear that I have extra motivation. I feel like this year has been tough, surgery, COVID.

“But here I am again in good health, and I’m really looking forward to playing the quarter-finals.”[/expander_maker]