Matteo Berrettini overcomes Alexander Zverev to set up last-16 clash with Carlos Alcaraz... as the Italian reveals he only declared himself fit on the FIRST DAY of Wimbledon

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Italian heart throb Matteo Berrettini celebrated setting up a blockbuster last 16 clash with top seed Carlos Alcaraz by revealing he only declared himself fit enough to play on the first day of the Championships.

Runner-up to Novak Djokovic here two years ago, the two-time winner at Queen's won a late night classic against German pre-match favourite Sacha Zverev on a packed Court One.

Berrettini was once again tipped for great things at Wimbledon in 2022 only for COVID to lay him low on the eve of the tournament. That and ensuing injuries contributed to his ranking tumbling from a career-high sixth in the world to NO.38.

Reflecting on his sixth consecutive day on court after a 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 victory, he said: 'I spent many days in my bed crying about not being able to play last year. Playing six days in a row is nothing. I missed playing, I missed competing, and I found extra energy.'

This was only his 17th match of an injury-ridden year he added: 'I wasn't sure I was going to play. I flew here and I said maybe the atmosphere is going to help me a little bit. I was really not sure about it. Not because I didn't want to. In order to play a slam, you have to be ready physically, emotionally, mentally. There are many things.

Matteo Berrettini secured a 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 victory as he managed to overcome Alexander Zverev

Zverev stated that he believes Berrettini can win Wimbledon if he plays to that standard

'The will is not enough. But then I have to say I did a great job with my team. We worked really hard. They let me decide. They told me 'it has to be your decision.

'A few days before, I thought 'I'm not ready.' But I missed too many events in the last years. I couldn't leave this place without trying. That's what I said to myself.

'I love to play here. Last year I missed it and I still didn't heal from that withdrawal. This tournament changed my career, my life and I'm really happy.'

The classic clash of the former crocks could not have been possible without the outstanding shot play of the unfortunate Zverev.

He said afterwards: 'I told Matteo he can win the tournament if he continue to play like that. There are other great player and Alcaraz will be tough, but he has chances against everyone playing like that.'

Zverev complained, with both players unsettled by the bad light that preceded a rain break

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The 6'6' big-server from Hamburg looks like a Californian surfer as he prowls the court with his long blonde hair and languid style.

But that just hides a suffering, occasionally anxious, 26-year-old, who should be proud just to have made it on court too,

Zverev was world NO2 and reigning Olympic Games gold medallist when he injured an ankle at last year's French Open semi-finals. Subsequent surgery led to a lengthy absence from the courts and he arrived in SW19 ranked a relatively low NO.19.

Both players were unsettled by the bad light that preceded a rain break and then the covering of the Court One roof due to rain. When the rivals re-emerged after a lengthy interval, they stalled at the net for a further five minutes, wary of restarting the match on a slippery surface in light of their recent injury track records.

Zverev complained: 'I think both of us played much better after the break because it was ridiculously dark before during the light. And we both were saying that to the umpire. But their plan wasn't to play us until 830. I don't know why.

The clash between Berrettini and Carlos Alcaraz promises to be an entertaining encounter

'Apart from when he broke me in the first set I played great. I looked at the stats and he won only three more points than me. That shows that it could have gone both ways, but in important moments he played better.'

That is a fair assessment of a match dominated by serve – with only that one break in the entire match.

Monday's showdown with Alcaraz promises to be the match of the tournament so far – one that Berrettini is already relishing.

He concluded: 'It is the sort of match that you play this game to be involved. He's NO.1 so the best player in the world. I'm so glad I have this kind of opportunity.'

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