Berrettini battles to reach third USO quarter-final

Matteo Berrettini, who missed several months of play through injury, advanced past a hampered Spanish opponent on Sunday to his third quarter-final at the US Open.

The Italian who played the Wimbledon final last season, beat  Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 to book his fifth quarter-final in his last five Grand Slam appearances.

Berrettini also reached the last eight here in 2019 and 2021.

The drama lasted for nearly four hours as Davidovich Fokina was treated after hyper-extending his left knee late in the final set.

The 13th-seeded Roman, who underwent hand surgery in the spring and then had to drop out of Wimbledon due to a positive COVID test, advanced on his third match point

“I’m really proud of this win,” Berrettini said. “I didn’t get the start that I wanted, going down a set and a break.

“But I fought through thanks to the support from my box cheering me up.

“I found the right energy. I was a little tired in the fourth set but I wanted to give everything in the fifth.

“I’ll take this victory even if it’s not the way I wanted to win (against an injured opponent).”

Main photo:- Matteo Berrettini celebrates as he wins quarter final match – by Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA