People want Matteo Berrettini to win at a high level. He's hung around the ATP for many years, never having won a Masters or Grand Slam while suffering numerous injuries. Through it all, he's remained a likable human being who deserves good things.
The Italian has come close to winning majors. He reached the final of Wimbledon in 2021 before losing to Novak Djokovic. He's reached at least the quarterfinals in every other Grand Slam. He's capable of greatness, if only his health would allow him to keep playing.
Arthur Fils, Berrettini's second-round opponent at Wimbledon 2026, is also capable of excellence, though. He's eight years younger than the Italian, and still trying to prove he is capable of the kind of tennis that would keep him in the top 10 for many years. So far, his career-best is No. 14, but he's trending upward by reaching the semifinals of the Madrid and Miami Masters this year.
2026 could be the year Matteo Berrettini earns his first Wimbledon title
Both players have huge serves and forehands, the kinds that can push a player toward a Wimbledon title. Whoever won the match could make a run to the final.
Berrettini started better, getting breaks in each of the first two sets. Both sets were well-played by Fils and Berrettini, with many games that could have gone either way. The Frenchman simply couldn't get the break that eluded him, though, and he was going to be forced to play five sets to win after losing the first two 4-6, 5-7.
He would get the break in the third set, though, and kept himself in the match by taking the set 6-3. He was trying to learn how to beat Berrettini while also learning how to win on grass.
The two players had played only once before, which was at the Tokyo Open in 2024, but after winning the first set, Berrettini had to retire, giving the match to Fils. Heading into Wimbledon, Fils had only played 11 ATP matches on grass.
At 2-1 Berrettini in the fourth set, though, Fils might have started to run out of gas. He was broken, and then the Italian held with ease to get to 4-1. A comeback by Arthur Fils at this point, though not impossible, seemed very unlikely.
To his credit, Fils kept fighting, even forcing deuce as Berrettini was trying to serve out the match at 5-3 in the fourth set. The Italian kept launching huge serves, though, and took the set 6-3.
Matteo Berrettini's next match could be one that fans feel conflicted about. He might face Grigor Dimitrov, another beloved veteran, in the third round of Wimbledon 2026. Dimitrov would first have to defeat Jakub Mensik in the second round, though.
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