What an absolute gladiatorial spectacle! Matteo Berrettini didn't just win a tennis match at Roland Garros; he wrestled his career back from the brink in a grueling, five-hour epic on Court Simonne-Mathieu.
Key Takeaways from Berrettini's Marathon Triumph
- Matteo Berrettini overcame Francisco Comesama in a five-hour, five-set thriller.
- The Italian clawed back from a two-sets-to-one deficit and saved crucial match points.
- This win marks a powerful return after missing four consecutive French Open tournaments due to injuries.
- He now advances to the round of 16, signaling his re-entry into the Top 100 rankings.
Berrettini Survives a Five-Hour War in Paris
Matteo Berrettini was thrown into a physical and mental grind inside Court Simonne-Mathieu, constantly pulled into uncomfortable positions as Francisco Comesana refused to break under pressure. At one point, Berrettini sprinted forward before retreating, trapped near the edge of the court and forced into a delicate forehand that barely cleared the net. His usually heavy groundstrokes lost their bite, floating instead of penetrating as intended.
This was his final stand in a marathon battle. After five hours of relentless exchanges, Berrettini found himself staring down match point against an opponent who had barely blinked all day. He had already clawed back from two sets to one down, survived a tense final-set super tiebreak, and even saved multiple match points of his own. But Comesana kept coming back. Now, Berrettini was left scrambling through a rally that looked like it could end everything.
A Long Road Back to Roland Garros
Whatever the outcome, this year’s Roland Garros already meant more for Berrettini than recent editions ever could. After reaching the quarterfinals in 2021, injuries forced him to miss the tournament four straight times, making this return feel like a personal victory on its own.
“I was just telling myself I deserve to be here,” Berrettini said. “Even if I lost the match, obviously it would hurt a lot, but it would have been a great battle, so I’m thankful for that.”
“Francisco played an unbelievable match, he missed like two balls in five hours.”
Even in defeat, Comesana’s consistency pushed Berrettini to the edge, but the Italian finally caught a break at the crucial moment. With Comesana trying to seize control of a point, he went for a forehand winner… only to send it just long. The packed crowd inside Simonne-Mathieu exhaled in collective relief as the momentum finally tilted.
Fifth Match Point Finally Delivers Relief
“I’m really proud of the work that I’ve done to come back and to feel good again.”
Moments later, at 14-13 in the deciding tiebreak, Berrettini earned his fifth match point. The tension remained unbearable as he misfired a backhand high into the air, only for Comesana to return the favor by missing long once again. Five years after his deep run in Paris, Berrettini had finally secured a return to the Round of 16.
The final scoreline reflected the chaos: 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (13). Across 389 points, both players delivered identical 20 aces, with Berrettini striking 70 winners but also committing 80 unforced errors. The match lasted over five hours, with serve speeds averaging an intense 126 mph.
“Just Happy to Be Back in These Moments”
After the win, Berrettini credited both the crowd and his resilience for carrying him through the ordeal.
“I’m just so happy, so tired,” he said. “Grateful for this incredible team, this unbelievable crowd, under the heat, under the sun, two sets to one down, we fought through this match, guys.”
Now 30 and ranked outside the top 100, Berrettini’s career has been heavily disrupted by injuries to his ab, ankle, hand, and foot. Once viewed as a future Grand Slam contender, his journey has become one of constant recovery and rebuilding.
Yet with top players like Jannik Sinner already out, there is suddenly space in the draw for a deeper run. For Berrettini, though, the focus remains simple: staying healthy and enjoying the fight again.
“I just missed playing these kind of matches and enjoying these kind of matches,” he said. “I’m really proud of the work that I’ve done to come back and to feel good again.”
