There are different types of applause. For example, surprised him. Or the euphoric. Or the polite, the conscientious. Nowhere can the many forms of this recognition be studied so well as on the Center Court at Wimbledon. Because nowhere else do silence and noise collide so much as in this special place of world sport. “Quiet, please!”, Only then does the audience react emotionally. The longer the men’s semi-finals lasted that Friday afternoon, the clearer it became (even to the TV viewer): Hubert Hurkacz received gentle, supportive, encouraging applause. Many of the 15,000 spectators did not want to see a completely one-sided game. Matteo Berrettini, however, was also consistently applauded, but more in the heavily impressed, respectful way that expresses: Is that good! He’s the better one and will win! But does he have to win so quickly and deliberately? The Pimm’s in hand isn’t even empty!
Hurkacz actually reared up briefly and won the third set in the tie-break, but with an immediate break Berrettini tore the match back to himself. And so the Italian defeated the 24-year-old Poland, who had similarly uncompromisingly thrown Roger Federer out of the tournament in the quarter-finals, earned 6: 3, 6: 0, 6: 7 (3), 6: 4 – and is now the first Professional from his country who ever reached the Wimbledon final. With men as with women.
Even before this duel, the 25-year-old Roman had made it clear how self-confident he is right now. “Everything I achieve is great, but it’s not something I wouldn’t expect.” In addition to world number one Novak Djokovic from Serbia, who after him defeated Canadian Denis Shapovalov 7: 6 (3), 7: 5, 7: 5 and is now playing for his 20th Grand Slam title, Berrettini was actually the one best actor in men’s competition. The world number nine shone with hard blows, especially with his pistol-like forehand. The British press describes his serves as “bombs”. That may all sound martial, but his game is really highly explosive. He thundered 22 aces into the field against Hurkacz. For him this is a normal value.
No fun for his opponents: In addition to his serve, the forehand is Matteo Berrettini’s best stroke.
(Photo: Toby Melville / Reuters)
In 2019 Berrettini was in the semifinals of the US Open. Now the most important match of his career is ahead of him, which slowly dawned on him after the four-movement success. “Words fail me. I need a few hours to understand what happened,” said Berrettini during the interview on the pitch. But then a few thoughts occurred to him. “I never dreamed of it because it was too big for a dream. I’m just so happy. Today was the best tennis day of my life. But I hope Sunday will be even better.”
While the son was standing downstairs and talking, the television cameras captured the parents upstairs in the stands during the broadcast. Mother Claudia filmed the scenes with her cell phone, father Luca took a deep breath. He had been exhausted and had pulled the cap over his face again and again during the game. As Berrettini the third set against the world number 18. lost from Wroclaw, he said to himself: “No, I deserve to win the match,” he happily continued, and the audience applauded. This time it was a generous, warm applause. The fact that this robust, refreshing, ten-fighter fit Italian is in the final was received absolutely benevolently at Wimbledon.