Berrettini Overcomes Fils in Four Sets to Advance as French Grand Slam Wait Continues at Wimbledon
“I absolutely did not stop believing, and neither did the crowd.”
Italy’s Matteo Berrettini defeated France’s Arthur Fils 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 on Centre Court at Wimbledon, combining experience and tactical discipline to overcome one of the tournament’s emerging talents and advance to the next round. The result also prolonged France’s decades-long wait for a men’s Grand Slam champion, with the country’s remaining hopes resting elsewhere in the draw.
Fils entered Wimbledon as one of the most closely watched young players despite an injury-disrupted season that interrupted his progress over the past year. The 22-year-old spent much of the previous 12 months recovering from a stress fracture sustained during last year’s French Open, an absence that temporarily halted expectations that he could emerge as one of the leading challengers to the sport’s established elite.
Although the defeat ended his campaign, Fils produced moments that demonstrated why he continues to be regarded as one of the ATP Tour’s most promising players. His aggressive baseline game, particularly his explosive forehand, repeatedly unsettled Berrettini and generated enthusiastic support from the Centre Court crowd.
Early in the contest, spectators responded warmly when Fils instinctively controlled a stray tennis ball with his knee after it landed in the stands following a Berrettini mishit. The spontaneous display reflected the confidence and athleticism that characterized much of his performance despite the eventual loss.
Fils also displayed his trademark attacking style by regularly moving forward to finish points at the net and refusing to reduce his intensity even after falling behind. Throughout the closing stages of the match, he continued encouraging spectators to increase their support while attempting to extend the contest.
Berrettini, however, relied on years of grass-court experience to maintain control during the decisive moments. The former Wimbledon finalist dictated much of the opening two sets with a powerful first serve and a consistently effective sliced backhand that repeatedly disrupted Fils’ rhythm.
The low trajectory and unpredictable bounce generated by Berrettini’s slice proved particularly effective on the grass surface, forcing the French player into uncomfortable hitting positions and limiting opportunities to dictate rallies from the baseline.
Fils created opportunities to break serve during the opening set but was unable to convert them, committing unforced errors during key points. Those missed chances allowed Berrettini to establish an early advantage before extending his lead by taking the second set.
The Frenchman’s preparation for Wimbledon had also been limited by injury concerns. After withdrawing from this year’s French Open to avoid aggravating a physical problem, he arrived at the All England Club without playing a competitive grass-court match during the season. That lack of match experience on the surface was evident during parts of the opening two sets as he adjusted to the speed and movement required on grass.
Despite facing a two-set deficit, Fils responded with increased aggression during the third set. He began striking the ball with greater authority, improving both his depth and consistency from the baseline while placing additional pressure on Berrettini’s service games.
The comeback attempt was accompanied by visible frustration. During the third set, Fils expressed disagreement with his coaching team, including coach Goran Ivanisevic, after repeated encouragement to position himself further inside the baseline when returning serve.
The French player also challenged the chair umpire over the time taken before play resumed between the third and fourth sets after Berrettini temporarily left the court.
“Why did you already allow him a minute?” Fils asked the umpire. “It’s going to be eight minutes before we play again.”
The interruption did not prevent Fils from producing his strongest spell of tennis. More than 100 minutes into the match, he secured his first service break after increasing the pace of his groundstrokes and capitalizing on a brief decline in Berrettini’s level.
With momentum shifting, Centre Court increasingly rallied behind the French player. Following a backhand winner struck at high pace, Fils raised both arms to encourage louder applause from spectators, who responded with sustained support as he attempted to force a deciding fifth set.
Berrettini, however, regained his composure at the beginning of the fourth set. Returning to the disciplined serving patterns and controlled shot selection that had characterized the opening stages of the match, the Italian gradually re-established control of the rallies.
His serving remained one of the decisive factors throughout the contest. Berrettini consistently earned free points with first serves while using his sliced backhand to prevent Fils from generating sustained attacking pressure.
The Italian also demonstrated composure in dealing with external distractions. At one point during the match, a champagne cork popped from the crowd as he prepared to serve, prompting a brief reaction before he resumed play without allowing the interruption to affect his concentration.
Fils continued competing aggressively until the closing stages, maintaining his attacking approach even while facing match point. His determination and refusal to concede momentum earned appreciation from the Centre Court crowd despite the eventual defeat.
The victory marked another encouraging performance for Berrettini as he continues his return from injury. After withdrawing during the latter stages of the French Open because of fitness concerns, the Italian appeared physically comfortable throughout much of the encounter and displayed the grass-court qualities that have previously made him one of the surface’s strongest competitors.
For Fils, the defeat highlighted both the promise and the challenges associated with his development. While periods of inconsistency reflected limited competitive preparation and recent injury setbacks, his shot-making ability, athleticism and resilience suggested significant long-term potential as he continues adapting to the demands of top-level competition.
France’s pursuit of a men’s Grand Slam singles title therefore remains unresolved. With Fils eliminated, national attention shifts to Arthur Rinderknech, who remains in the tournament and is scheduled to face Novak Djokovic in the next round as France seeks to end a championship drought that has extended for more than four decades.
