Matteo Berrettini, the former Wimbledon finalist, is determined to secure a seeding at the upcoming Australian Open in January. A strong performance at the Shanghai Masters 1000 tournament could significantly boost his chances.
Berrettini made a successful return to the Shanghai tournament on Thursday, defeating Christopher O’Connell in a hard-fought two-hour and 13-minute battle. The Italian saved two set points in the opening tiebreak and broke back in the second set to avoid a decider.
Despite withdrawing from his second-round match in Tokyo last week due to an abdominal issue, Berrettini is confident in his recovery. He has overcome numerous injuries in the past, including a challenging 2023 season.
“When you’re not able to do your job and what you like to do, then it’s always a struggle,” Berrettini said. “So I’m really appreciating every moment that I have to spend on court, to perform and give my best.”
Berrettini draws inspiration from his fellow countrymen, including world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Wimbledon semifinalist Lorenzo Musetti. Seven Italians are currently ranked inside the Top 50, providing a source of motivation for Berrettini.
“I look for their results to get the energy to come back,” he said. “I’m always supporting them in the last year in Davis Cup to get the energy to come back.”
In the second round, Berrettini faces a tough challenge against 12th-seeded Holger Rune. A victory would improve his tour-level record to 28-8 this season and bring him closer to his goal of a top-32 ranking.
“It would be nice to be in the top 32 at the end of the year and to be seeded in Australia,” Berrettini said. “But at the same time for me the most important thing is being healthy and being able to play.”
Rune holds a 2-1 head-to-head advantage over Berrettini, but the Italian will be determined to level the score and continue his pursuit of a strong finish to the season.
