Matteo Berrettini, it’s impossible not to notice: captain Filippo Volandri noticed it right away, but it was to be expected.
He was wrong who believed that in the absence of Italy’s number 2 the Italian battalion might not be competitive. The other tennis players summoned by Filippo Volandri proved to be perfectly up to expectations and to be able to handle, when needed, both the pressure and any situations a tad more complicated.
Matteo Berrettini & Co., in Bologna, fared great. Especially the Roman, about whose condition there was still a big question mark. He had arrived in New York slightly bruised and the fear was that he might not be able to keep up the pace of the team competition. Fortunately, he disproved everyone from day one and proved, on the other hand, that he had irrepressible energy. Along with a great desire to succeed and to contribute in an effective way to the Davis race.
Not too much was suffered, in short, by the absence of Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, who, after their overseas exertions, thought well of taking some rest. If the Carrarino devoted himself and his partner to the preparations for the christening of little Ludovico, the world number 1 did not think too much about it when it came to leaving for Bologna. He wanted to be there anyway, even if only on the bench. And that, apparently, made all the difference.
Berrettini has no doubts: he chose Sinner
He did it to the extent that, precisely, at the moment of finding the square, the presence of the world champion proved decisive. This was confessed by Volandri, who could not help but notice one thing during the last round of the group stage.
“In Bologna we had important answers from Berrettini,” these were his words to Gazzetta dello Sport, ”who came back and won very complicated matches also on a mental level, because the responsibility of bringing the point for the team is a lot. Cobolli played two very good matches. He is a player who has great potential, fast, fertile, who can still grow a lot on the physical part and also on the serve. Choices will have to be made and they are always complicated. It is always a furious fight and we have to prepare for the same thing in Malaga as well. We have a lot of ‘Italies’ at our disposal.”
“This is what Jannik has inside,” Volandri further explained, ”He is very good at managing, at not showing emotions on the court, but when he is in company he lets himself go and has fun. And then he gave good help to Berrettini when he was struggling against Van de Zandschulp. He told him to answer a little bit more to the right and back, and from there he started getting break balls. I told him that, but you can see that coming from the No. 1 in the world it has another effect. “
