Matteo Berrettini wants to use Jannik Sinner's Australian Open triumph as a springboard to his own success on the tennis courts as he seeks to return from injury.
Last month, Sinner became the first Italian, man or woman, to win the Australian Open. He dropped one set en route to the final and dethroned defending champion Novak Djokovic with a masterful performance in the semifinal.
Sinner's good work appeared to have gone down the drain when he stared down the barrel, trailing by two sets against Daniil Medvedev in the final. But he responded in a comeback akin to last year's Davis Cup tie against Serbia to beat the World No. 3 in five sets.
Following that groundbreaking success, Sinner has become a national hero back home. His Davis Cup heroics last year already garnered him widespread attention, but winning a maiden Grand Slam has even inspired his peers.
One of them is Matteo Berrettini, who had come close to ending Italy's drought for Grand Slam success in recent years before Sinner broke through. The 27-year-old has been troubled by injuries in the past year and hasn't played this season. He stated that he hasn't fully recovered.
"I'm better, but I'm not yet 100%. The goal is to play the whole season, and without these setbacks which are destroying my body and my head."
Berrettini, who was absent from Italy's Davis Cup playing squad in Malaga (but present as a spectator), joined the band during the official commemoration of that success and Sinner's Melbourne triumph in a ceremony with the Italian President, Sergio Mattarella.
The former World No. 6 called Sinner's special Grand Slam win as a "miracle" and hopes he can emulate him. In the meantime, Berrettini will attempt to draw inspiration and channel it into positive energy in his comeback.
"Sinner did a miracle. I will also use this energy for my tennis. I was happy with what Jannik said. We have a good relationship, which has strengthened in recent months. We are different but similar. We are pursuing the same dream."
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