Matteo Berrettini regained his London home with authority, defeating Arthur Fils in the second round of Wimbledon and returning to winning ways on Center Court after a five-year absence. The Italian tennis player dominated the match, demonstrating that his powerful game has returned to competitive levels on the lawns of the All England Club. The match against the young French talent was a crucial test for the former 2021 finalist.
Berrettini not only overcame his opponent, but made a technical and mental statement, managing the pressures of the center court with a renewed calm. The last time the Italian had raised his arms on this specific stage was 2019, a period of time in which injuries have consistently undermined his career. The victory over Fils marks the high point of his recent recovery journey, offering concrete proof that his body can withstand the impact of high-level tennis.
On a tactical level, success takes on a specific value considering the profile of the opponent. Fils embodies the new generation of athletic explosiveness and flat, lethal shots on grass. Berrettini dismantled this arsenal with a surgical strategy, using the serve not only as a starting point but as a final weapon.
The ability not to get drawn into frenetic rallies and impose heavy tempos demonstrates superior tactical maturity, suggesting that the technical work carried out during rehabilitation has refined a game that risked becoming too one-dimensional. In a tournament where the favorites are faltering, the Italian's performance serves as a wake-up call for the rest of the draw. The recovery process did not just concern physicality, but the reconstruction of a competitive identity lost between forced stops.
Imposing your game against an emerging top player means that your confidence on the London lawns has returned to the highest levels. It is no longer a simple attempt at reaffirmation, but a concrete candidacy as a protagonist in the advanced stages of the tournament, capable of rebalancing the forces in a men's field in search of certain references. The statistics speak for themselves: Berrettini closed the first set with an immediate break and a 6-3 run, then accelerated in the second, breaking Fils' serve in the second game and closing 6-2.
The third set was a monologue, with the Italian closing 6-1 in just 28 minutes. The Frenchman, number 35 in the ATP ranking, missed 32 free shots against Berrettini's 14, a gap that explains the ease with which the world number 102 dismissed the match. Berrettini's serve traveled at an average of 198 km/h, with 12 aces, while Fils never managed to find a break point, finishing with just 3 aces and 2 double faults.
This triumph is not an isolated episode, but the culmination of a reconstruction process that began at the end of 2023. After the foot operation and the long stop, Berrettini chose not to accelerate his return, working on a plan of gradual loads to avoid relapses. The body responded, but the real difference was made by the head: the Italian reduced expectations, accepting that he was not yet at 100% but playing with the knowledge that he could still impose himself on the best.
In a context like Wimbledon, where grass rewards precision and power, Berrettini made the most of his strengths. The forehand, a lethal weapon, found space to explode, while the serve functioned as psychological leverage. Fils, accustomed to fast shots and rapid exchanges, found himself forced into a cage of slow rhythms and heavy shots, where his explosiveness became a limit.
The victory thus takes on added value: not only for the ranking, but for the demonstration that Italian tennis can still count on a champion capable of dictating the law on the fastest courts in the world. At the end of the meeting, emotion took over. "Winning against Centrale is special, I'm back", began Berrettini, with the smile that characterized his run to the final five years ago.
His words touched on the personal dimension of the return: "It's been a long time since I played so many matches in a Slam. " This statement underlines a change in mental approach, where gratitude for being able to play has overcome performance anxiety. What happens now?
Berrettini enters the third round like a loose cannon on the scoreboard. If his body continues to support his technique, the Italian has all it takes to return to contending for the title. His renewed serenity could be the secret weapon that will allow him to go beyond expectations in this edition of the Championships.
Berrettini's record at Wimbledon is not just a memory, but a yardstick for anyone who dares to challenge him on Center Court. In 2021, the Italian reached the final after eliminating Djokovic in the semifinals, a performance that remains the brightest of his career. Since then, the circuit has seen a new wave of talent emerge, with players such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner taking up the baton.
Yet, in this edition, it is Berrettini who reminds everyone that experience counts, especially on a surface that rewards coolness and the ability to manage decisive points. His win over Fils is not just a step towards the third round, but a reminder that the old lions can still roar when you least expect it. Read at Sky Sport Italia
Why this matters
Berrettini's return to success on Center Court is not just a ranking victory, but a symbol of his resilience. After years of battling devastating injuries, seeing the Italian dominate again on his favorite surface confirms that the top level is still within his reach. For world tennis, it means that a past finalist has returned alive and dangerous, capable of threatening the favourites. In a tournament where the favorites are already falling, his statement takes on even greater weight, because it demonstrates that pure quality can still prevail over the burning athleticism of the new generation.
Frequently asked
When had Berrettini last won on Center Court?
Matteo Berrettini's last victory on the Center Court of Wimbledon dates back to 2019, five years before this success against Arthur Fils.
Who beat Berrettini in the second round of Wimbledon?
Berrettino defeated the young French talent Arthur Fils, thus entering the third round of the London tournament.
What did Berrettini say after the victory?
He stated that winning over Centrale is special and that he is back. He added that he smiles while he is on the court, happy to play so many matches in a Slam.
What was Berrettini's best result at Wimbledon?
Berrettini reached the Wimbledon final in 2021, losing to Novak Djokovic, in what remains his best performance at a Slam.
How many aces did Berrettini serve in the match against Fils?
Berrettini served 12 aces during the match against Arthur Fils.
What is Berrettini's current ranking?
After the victory, Berrettini is number 102 in the ATP ranking.
