Matteo Berrettini reached an ATP-level quarter-final for the first time in more than a year on Wednesday, constructing a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 defeat of Jaume Munar to advance in Morocco.
The Italian who played the Wimbledon final in 2021 is only a month into a comeback after an ankle injury and showed his determination in a three-set victory over the Spaniard.
No. 135 Berrettini led a set and 3-1 but ended up having to go the distance.
“I’m really proud of what I did, but if you start to think too much about what happened you are never going to be able to win a match like this.
“For sure I cursed myself a little bit, but the best thing you can do is think about the next point and how you are going to win the match.
“I forgave myself for that moment and kept going, and at the end I got the win.”
The Roman converted four of 13 break chances as he comes back after half a year out of action.
Four Italians took to the clay in Marrekech, with Lorenzo Sonego joining his compatriot with a defeat of Sumit Nagal 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.
A fellow countryman went down to defeat as Flavio Cobolli lost to eighth seed Pavel Kotov 6-1, 7-6 (5).
