Matteo Berrettini looks to be in fine form this week, as he searches for a first career Masters 1000 title.
The Italian star has quietly enjoyed a strong start to his 2025 campaign, securing a big win at the Qatar Open last month.
Berrettini knocked out Novak Djokovic in Doha, scoring his first-ever victory over the 24-time Major champion.
At the Miami Open, Berrettini has beaten Hugo Gaston, Zizou Bergs, and Alex de Minaur to advance to just his fourth career Masters 1000 quarter-final.
Berrettini’s run to the last eight in Florida ended a four year drought having last reached the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 event in 2021.
Matteo Berrettini lost to Alexander Zverev in the 2021 Madrid Open final
The 28-year-old’s most recent appearance in a Masters 1000 quarter-final came in 2021, when he played some of his best tennis at the Madrid Open.
Berrettini took down several clay court specialists on his way to a maiden Masters final, where he faced off against Alexander Zverev.
- 2021 Madrid Open SF – Matteo Berrettini beat Casper Ruud, 6-4, 6-4
- 2021 Madrid Open QF – Matteo Berrettini beat Cristian Garin, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0
- 2021 Madrid Open 3R – Matteo Berrettini beat Federico Delbonis, 7-6, 6-4
- 2021 Madrid Open 2R – Matteo Berrettini beat Fabio Fognini, 6-3, 6-4
The world number 30 had won his most recent encounter with Zverev on the clay, beating him at his home Italian Open two years earlier.
Berrettini carried that momentum through to the first set of their clash in Madrid as he edged past the German in a tiebreaker, 7-6 [10-8].
Stepping things up in the second and third sets, Zverev fought back to win in three, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3, as he lifted his fourth Masters 1000 trophy.
After the match Berrettini said he hoped his appearance in the final would be the first of many.
“This was my first final, hopefully it’s not going to be my last,” he said.
“Today unfortunately I think I didn’t play my best tennis, I have to say that he made me play not my best tennis.
“That’s why tennis is a tricky sport.”
The Italian has struggled at the Masters 1000 level since, performing better at the Grand Slam events, reaching the Wimbledon final later that year.
| Tier | QF reached | SF reached | F reached |
| Grand Slams | 6 | 3 | 1 (2021 Wimbledon) |
| Masters 1000 | 4* | 2 | 1 (2021 Madrid Open) |
Matteo Berrettini looks to continue remarkable Miami Open run with win over Taylor Fritz
Berrettini will face a tough test in the Miami Open quarter-finals as he takes on America’s Taylor Fritz.
The Italian has lost all four of his previous matches with Fritz, falling to defeat most recently at the 2024 US Open.
- 2024 US Open R64 – Matteo Berrettini lost to Taylor Fritz, 3-6, 6-7, 1-6
- 2023 United Cup F – Matteo Berrettini lost to Taylor Fritz, 6-7, 6-7
- 2021 Indian Wells R32 – Matteo Berrettini lost to Taylor Fritz, 4-6, 3-6
- 2019 Davis Cup RR – Matteo Berrettini lost to Taylor Fritz, 7-5, 6-7, 2-6
The American world number four had struggled for form during the early months of the 2025 season, but has impressed in Miami, winning his opening three matches without dropping a set.
Fritz’s win over Denis Shapovalov in the third round was arguably his most impressive, as he exacted revenge over the man who beat him in Dallas one month earlier.
Neither Fritz nor Berrettini have ever reached the semi-finals in Miami, with the latter securing his maiden victories at the event in 2025.
It remains to be seen who will come out on top when Fritz plays Berrettini in the Miami Open quarter-finals on Thursday, March 27.
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