Matteo Berrettini says he has built a very good relationship with Lorenzo Musetti as he credits Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer for showing that it’s possible to be rivals but to also have a very fair relationship. Berrettini, 26, and 20-year-old Musetti clashed in the Naples final last week.
After Musetti defeated Berrettini 7-6 (5) 6-2 to win Naples, he spoke positively of Berrettini and acknowledged that the 26-year-old wasn’t at his best because he was hampered by a foot injury. Also, Musetti reached out to Berrettini after the final, something that made the 2021 Wimbledon finalist very happy.
“On Tuesday I heard from Lorenzo Musetti, he wanted to know how I was. He made me very happy. Thanks also to Davis Cup, a friendship is being created between us off the court. I think it’s very nice: as Federer and Nadal have shown, tennis goes beyond anything,” Berrettini told Corriere dello Sport, per Sportskeeda.
Berrettini on ‘Italy’s Big Three’
Berrettini, Musetti and Jannik Sinner are considered “Italy’s Big Three.” Giving his thoughts on that, Berrettini acknowledged that Italy has some other talented and quality players.
“If we compare them to those three that everyone knows, no, but in reality there are more than three here. And we are not that far from each other. Sonego had a complicated year but he was 20 of the world. Fognini is always very dangerous and with Bolelli he is having a very good year in doubles.
The best thing is that there are a lot of people following us: it doesn’t matter whether they prefer me, Sinner, Musetti or the others. It’s nice that they are following tennis, which has become more ‘mainstream.’
A very beautiful thing but at the same time dangerous,” Berrettini explained. Meanwhile, Berrettini pulled out of this week’s ATP 500 event in Vienna. Berrettini is hoping to be able to play next week at the Paris Masters.
