Italian tennis player Matteo Berrettini has made a significant comeback at the French Open, reaching the fourth round after a hard-fought victory over Argentina’s Francisco Comesana. This marks only the second time since 2022 that Berrettini has advanced this far in a Grand Slam tournament.

Overcoming Challenges

Once ranked as high as world number six, Berrettini has faced numerous challenges over the past few years, including fitness issues that led him to miss eight of the last 18 Grand Slam events. His last notable performance was a runner-up finish to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon five years ago.

In a grueling five-hour match on Saturday, Berrettini triumphed over Comesana with scores of 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(15-13). After the match, he expressed a renewed sense of confidence, stating, “I know what it takes to go deep in a slam, but at the same time, it’s also true that I haven’t been deep in a slam for a long time.”

Emotional Victory

Berrettini’s victory was not just a physical triumph but an emotional one as well. He admitted to having doubted himself over the past months and years, despite the unwavering support from his family, friends, and team. “Sometimes I just have to confess that I thought that I couldn’t come back, I couldn’t feel good on court again,” he shared.

His emotional response after the match, where he appeared to hold back tears while waving to the crowd, was a testament to his journey back to form. “That’s why I was emotional, because I proved to myself one more time that I can do this, I can do it well, I can fight, I can enjoy my time on court,” Berrettini said.

Looking ahead, Berrettini is set to face another Argentinian player, Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who recently defeated world number one Jannik Sinner in the second round. This upcoming match will be another test of Berrettini’s resilience and renewed confidence on the court.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.