Resurgent Berrettini beats Cerundolo to become lowest-ranked French Open quarter-finalist ever

[p]The former Wimbledon finalist, who has been plagued by injuries, won 6-3, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (6) against Argentinian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cerundolo-juan-manuel/A93TM7BR/"]Cerundolo[/a], who had dumped out world number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] in the second round.[/p][p][b]"This (tennis) is the love of my life, I guess, otherwise I wouldn't keep coming back after all the setbacks, the injuries,"[/b] said [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/berrettini-matteo/OhwtM7N8/"]Berrettini[/a].[/p][p][b]"There were moments it was really tough to come back and hit a ball... But now I'm back and it's thanks to them (his team), my character and my resilience."[/b][/p][embed guid="8b91ed7c-23bc-4312-adab-e782438f3dc5" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2061497963688419441" social-type="twitter" /][p]Berrettini, the world number 105, is the lowest-ranked Roland Garros men's quarter-finalist since Igor Andreev in 2007.[/p][p]"I feel great, I feel happy," he added. [b]"That's why I'm here, I just want to enjoy this atmosphere with my team, with my family."[/b][/p][p]The 30-year-old will next face either American 19th seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tiafoe-frances/AHDLJaph/"]Frances Tiafoe[/a] or fellow Italian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arnaldi-matteo/hlVLAfZK/"]Matteo Arnaldi[/a] on Wednesday.[/p][p]Berrettini, who lost the 2021 Wimbledon showpiece to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a], is the only Grand Slam finalist left in his half of the draw and one of only two remaining in the men's tournament, alongside [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a].[/p][p][b]"There are so many players who are playing unbelievable tennis," [/b]said Berrettini when asked about the open nature of the draw after surprise early defeats for Sinner and Djokovic.[/p][p][b]"Tennis - it's unpredictable... The field is pretty packed and I'm trying to give my best, I'm focusing on my game and I want to enjoy this win."[/b][/p][embed guid="d8518fd9-cb2d-4792-90f7-28fc18890ed6" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2061498271504204169" social-type="twitter" /][p]He showed few ill effects of playing the longest match of his career when he beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/comesana-francisco/SxKK0RUD/"]Francisco Comesana[/a], saving two match points, in the previous round.[/p][p]He powered through the first two sets, saving the only break point he faced in the opening game.[/p][p]Cerundolo, who also won in a deciding-set tie-break in round three in the third-longest match in Roland Garros history, dug deep and broke for a 3-2 lead in the third set.[/p][p]But he failed to serve it out and then missed three set points from 6-3 up in the tie-break.[/p][p]Berrettini took full advantage, reaching his first major quarter-final since the 2022 US Open on his first match point, as Cerundolo could only dump a blistering return into the net.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/berrettini-m-OhwtM7N8/cerundolo-j-m-A93TM7BR/?mid=4AB3gcKb"]Click here for more on the match[/a][/b][/p]