Matteo Berrettini’s return to the Middle East following a six-year absence is paying off as the Italian matched his result from Doha last week by reaching the quarter-finals in Dubai on Wednesday.
Berrettini booked a last-eight showdown with No 4 seed and two-time Dubai runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas by defeating Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell 7-6, 6-2.
The former world No 6 fired 15 aces, dropped a mere seven points on serve, and faced zero break points against O’Connell throughout the 90-minute clash.
“It’s great. I’ve been wanting to have many matches in my legs for so long and I’ve been working really hard and I think I’m playing a great level of tennis,” said Berrettini, who knocked out Novak Djokovic in Doha last week before falling in three sets to Jack Draper in the quarter-finals.
“I’m enjoying my time on court. It’s great to be back in the quarter-finals, and hopefully this one is going to be better than the last one.”
Berrettini returned from a six-month hiatus – due to a ruptured ankle ligament – last March and climbed from 154 in the world to inside the top 40 by capturing three tour-level titles in 2024.
His impressive results earned him Comeback Player of the Year honours and he’s now up to No 30 in the world and climbing.
“Fortunately, there is room for improvement, always, which is good, because otherwise, where is the fun?” said Berrettini of his current form.
“But at the same time, I’m moving well, I’m serving well. I improved my return and my backhand, which were my weaknesses a little bit, so I’m really happy for the work I’m putting in with my team, I’m really proud of what I’m doing, and hopefully a great season ahead.”
Berrettini has endured his fair share of injuries and bad luck over the years, which he says has helped him approach tennis a little differently now that he’s able to be back on court competing.
“I appreciate all the moments on court and off court. When I was at home and doing rehab and everything, I was missing this. So the moments when I’m tired, or maybe I don’t want to train or I wish I were somewhere else, I think about those moments and then everything comes easier,” he explained.
“I also learned that tennis takes time, life takes time, so I accept myself a little bit more and that’s why I’m happier now.”
Berrettini’s three titles last year all came on clay but the 28-year-old has shown in the past he is most deadly on grass and speedy hard courts.
His best results at the Grand Slams were a runner-up showing on the lawns of Wimbledon in 2021, and semi-final appearances on the hard courts of the Australian Open in 2022 and US Open in 2019.
“I always knew my game could fit all surfaces but at the same time it’s never easy when you don’t have matches on your legs, especially on a surface I wasn’t born on,” said Berrettini, who grew up playing on the clay courts of his native Rome.
“I feel like grass suits my game, and I improved a lot some aspects and then the confidence going to some tournaments, they’re always the best on tour.
“But on clay I grew up. So I have this feeling, especially in altitude, where I love to play. But at the same time, these conditions [in Dubai] are really good for me. When you hit the ball well, playing aggressive, it’s paying off, so I’m really happy.”
Berrettini enters his Thursday quarter-final against Tsitsipas trailing the Greek 3-1 head-to-head but the Italian triumphed in their most recent meeting, which came on clay in the Gstaad semi-finals.
“Stefanos is definitely improving his game, he’s obviously a great champion of our sport,” said Berrettini of the Greek world No 11.
“He proved many times that he could come back. I saw him because he played against a good friend of mine, Lorenzo Sonego, in the first round and he was playing good.
“So it will be for sure a tough match, but I’m ready, I’m feeling ready and feeling happy. So let’s see.”
Tsitsipas, who claimed a late-night victory over Karen Khachanov on Wednesday, has been playing with a blacked-out frame this week in Dubai as he appears to be testing a new racquet.
He said during his on-court interview following his first-round win over Sonego that the conditions on tour have been getting slower, especially due to the type of balls in use, and he is testing out new equipment to feel more comfortable on court.
Berrettini likes the Dunlop ball, which has been heavily criticised by several players, including Daniil Medvedev, and says the real issue is the frequent changes of balls used at different tournaments.
“I feel like the balls are getting slower and slower all the time. But at the same time what’s most important for us, I think, is consistency,” said the Italian.
“We have to try with the same ball, at least on the same surface. We play on clay, we play with the same ball and the quality of the ball is really important, so for our injuries, and I know a lot about that, it’s really important.
“I personally like a lot the Dunlop balls, I think they’re the best. But again, everybody has different opinions.”
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
RESULTS
Bantamweight title:
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) bt Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
(KO round 2)
Catchweight 68kg:
Sean Soriano (USA) bt Noad Lahat (ISR)
(TKO round 1)
Middleweight:
Denis Tiuliulin (RUS) bt Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
(TKO round 1)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) bt Joachim Tollefsen (DEN)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 68kg:
Austin Arnett (USA) bt Daniel Vega (MEX)
(TKO round 3)
Lightweight:
Carrington Banks (USA) bt Marcio Andrade (BRA)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 58kg:
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) bt Malin Hermansson (SWE)
(Submission round 2)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (CAN) bt Juares Dea (CMR)
(Split decision)
Middleweight:
Mohamad Osseili (LEB) bt Ivan Slynko (UKR)
(TKO round 1)
Featherweight:
Tarun Grigoryan (ARM) bt Islam Makhamadjanov (UZB)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 54kg:
Mariagiovanna Vai (ITA) bt Daniella Shutov (ISR)
(Submission round 1)
Middleweight:
Joan Arastey (ESP) bt Omran Chaaban (LEB)
(Unanimous decision)
Welterweight:
Bruno Carvalho (POR) bt Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
(TKO)
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Scores
Oman 109-3 in 18.4 overs (Aqib Ilyas 45 not out, Aamir Kaleem 27) beat UAE 108-9 in 20 overs (Usman 27, Mustafa 24, Fayyaz 3-16, Bilal 3-23)
Manchester United v Liverpool
Premier League, kick off 7.30pm (UAE)
The Ashes
Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs
The biog
Name: Sari Al Zubaidi
Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati
Age: 42
Marital status: single
Favourite drink: drip coffee V60
Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
John Cena v Triple H
Matches to be announced
WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Raw Tag Team Championship, United States Championship and the Cruiserweight Championship are all due to be defended
Stage 5 results
1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 3:48:53
2 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team -
3 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott -
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:00:04
5 Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) CCC Team 0:00:07
General Classification:
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 20:35:04
2 Tadej Pogacar (SlO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:01
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 0:01:33
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:48
5 Rafał Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:02:11
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Mountain%20Boy
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How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
