Matteo Berrettini had arrived in Wimbledon at the nadir of his career after a nightmare 18 months filled with injuries and despair. As new ailments frequently sprung up and old wounds failed to heal, his body was crumbling under the strain of professional tennis. He spent his days before the tournament considering whether it would be worthwhile to simply withdraw.
Instead, he chose to play, tearing through the draw to reach the second week. On Monday, the Italian provided Carlos Alcaraz with one of the most difficult tests of his young career on the grass court, yet Alcaraz responded to the challenge supremely. After trailing by a set, the top seed recovered to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time in his career, defeating Berrettini 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
