Due to his injury, Matteo Berrettini did not have the opportunity to defend the Italian team in the group stage of the Davis Cup in Bologna. The Roman had a torn ligament since the US Open and ultimately didn’t arrive in time for Davis. Now that the team has qualified for the final in Málaga, Berrettini spoke out.
The Italian could not help his teammates in the task of qualifying the team for the group stage Davis Cup 2023 but he accompanied them on the crucial day of qualifying against Chile last Friday. Berrettini encouraged the Italian team at home, who made it to the final Malaga final which will take place from November 21st to 26th. The Roman wanted to accompany Musetti and Co. to show his commitment to them, his desire to be in Malaga and to thank them for providing a breath of fresh air after his injury.
And after his ankle injury in US Open, Berrettini is undergoing rehabilitation which will allow him to be back at the end of the Asian tour and therefore ready to join the team in November. The Italian spoke with us Sky Sports about how his injury is progressing, about Italy’s chances of conquering the Salad Bowl and how these days with the team have helped him find good feelings again.
How is the recovery going?
“The recovery is going well. As I previously reported, my injury is less serious than expected, fortunately or unfortunately I have had many of these sprains and know what process awaits me. I’m doing better, after everything that happened this year I felt more hurt inside than outside. Especially from this point of view, I needed to recover and I have to say that these days in Bologna helped me a lot to find the right sensations again. The idea of being able to play in Malaga is an additional motivation.”
The Davis Cup, a motivation for your own benefit
“Since I was little, I have always seen Davis as a competition where the team triumphs and manages to form a very strong group. That’s what we said to each other with Volandri and the boys and we’re trying to implement it. No matter who plays, we have to have a goal. I must be selfish, I also came here for myself and to feel this positive energy. An incentive to play in Malaga and recover even faster.”
The real threat from Italy in Malaga
“In general, if you face difficulties in the right way, you always come out stronger. I always told myself that at some point it might have become too much and I would sink too low. I think the Davis didn’t start well for us here in Bologna this year, but then we qualified. And now everyone, including us, knows that we are a very dangerous team.”
