Novak Djokovic remembers when he was in Matteo Berrettini ‘s current position and making his debut appearance at the year-end championship. It was 2007, when he was just 20 years old.
With the Masters Cup in its penultimate season in Shanghai, Djokovic was placed into a round-robin group with Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, and Richard Gasquet. The Serb went 0-3 and did not win a single set, losing to Ferrer 6-4, 6-4, to Gasquet 6-4, 6-2, and to Nadal 6-4, 6-4.
“I remember back in…I think it was 2007 that I played for the first time in the [year-end championship] in Shanghai, and I think I lost all three matches in the group,” Djokovic reflected, correcty. “I was with Nadal and Ferrer; I can’t remember the fourth guy (Gasquet). I was tense. I mean, I was happy that I was there, of course. I was very proud to be part of this elite eight guys, but it’s an environment which is kind of new to you. Even though it’s a tennis court, a tennis match, it’s still different, knowing that you’re there for the first time and that you’re going to play against a top-10 player every match in the group.
“It’s a lot of pressure mentally that you have to deliver your best, where for us guys that have been playing on the top level for many years, we have the experience. We know how to handle these kind of situations emotionally (and) mentally.
“So that’s why at the beginning [against Berrettini], knowing that he’s probably going to feel a bit more nervous I wanted to try to use and break the resistance very quickly. He missed a relatively easy forehand for him. That gave me break. And after that I started reading his serve better, positioning myself on the court. I started moving really well.”
Berrettini did not last long once Djokovic got going. The 23-year-old Italian, who climbed to eighth in the world from a previous career-high of No. 52, got broken in every one of his last five service games starting at 2-3 in the first set. He committed 33 unforced errors to Djokovic’s eight.
“For sure I was nervous,” Berrettini admitted with a smile. “First time in the Finals after a great year, so, yeah I was nervous–but not in a bad way. Normally when I step in the court and I don’t feel nervous, something is wrong. I have to feel nervous to play my best tennis. I think I started the match pretty [well], but he was just better than me today. So (I’m) just accepting the loss and for sure I’m looking forward to play the next matches.”
There is nowhere to go but up, and really everything in London is a bonus for Berrettini. It also can’t get any worse than it was for Djokovic at the 2007 Masters Cup…and he certainly turned out okay in the long run!
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expected one
Didn’t expect Nole to be so fast and sharp out of the gate. Sometimes he plays someone he’s never played before rather cautiously at first and likes to get a feel for what his opponent has. But Nole played well, no hesitation at all and obviously did his homework. Proud of Nole! Sorry for poor Berrettini. Hope the Italian can shake off the nerves and perform better next round.