It's been a very good season for Matteo Berrettini who solidified himself as a regular top 10 player who is regularly playing at the ATP Finals. That will be the case in 2021 as well with the Italian officially qualifying after his win yesterday in Vienna. His opponent was Alexei Popyrin from Australia and after the match, Berrettini admitted he expected a tough match:
“I knew it would be tough, especially at the beginning. [Popyrin had already] played two matches [in qualifying for Vienna], tough matches. So, for sure he was feeling the conditions and in the beginning, I had to adjust a little bit, adapt on the court. Practice is one thing, playing the match is another."
The interview obviously steered into the direction of the ATP Finals with Berrettini expressing his relief and happiness about qualifying:
“Crazy. It was in the air. It’s an unbelievable achievement. [I’m] so happy. It’s going to be in Italy and really I cannot wait…Wow, what an achievement."
Berrettini also expressed even more satisfaction at the event being hosted in Italy as opposed to London:
“Now I know it’s happening. London was amazing, probably Turin will be even better. Nothing to take from London but I mean it’s going to be in Italy so, wow!”