Manic Monday was special for Matteo Berrettini, and not just because he reached his first Wimbledon quarter-final. The Italian was later able to watch from the player’s box on No. 1 Court as his girlfriend, WTA star Ajla Tomljanovic, advanced to the last eight of a major for the first time.
“The fact that she’s also in the quarter-finals is just crazy. It’s not easy for a couple like us to make these results,” Berrettini told ATPTour.com. “I’m so proud of her the way she’s handling everything. Today obviously wasn’t the best way to end the match. But she was there, the atmosphere before the injury was great. I think she deserves it and I’m really happy for her. Now it’s time to think about the quarter-finals.
“She’s going to play tomorrow, I’m going to play on Wednesday. But so far, it’s been the best Grand Slam that we’ve played together.”
Tomljanovic On Berrettini: His Game Is Great, His Mental Side Is Even Better
Tomljanovic will next face fellow Aussie Ashleigh Barty, the top seed, in an attempt to reach her maiden major semi-final. This is Berrettini’s second consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final and his third overall. In 2019, he reached the semi-finals at the US Open. So far this fortnight, the Italian has lost just one set.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling for myself. I never reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon,” Berrettini said. “Being able to do it like this, it obviously gives me a lot of confidence to go forward in the tournament.”
It has been a memorable tournament for Berrettini and Tomljanovic as a couple, but it does not end there. The Italian will next play good friend Felix Auger-Aliassime for a spot in the semi-finals at the All England Club. Felix’s girlfriend is Tomljanovic’s cousin, and the quartet forms a small family on tour. According to the Aussie, they are all enjoying this moment.
“After we won, all three of us passed each other in the hallway. I was so happy for him because how he goes about the sport is unbelievable. He wants it so much. He loves everything about it. To see him do well, it makes me so happy,” Tomljanovic said of Auger-Aliassime. “I gave him a fist pump, like, ‘Yay, Felix.’ I think they actually also hugged. I’m happy one of them will be through on Wednesday.
“If he had lost today, that would have sucked more. Of course, I’d rather see them in the final, but I think it’s unbelievable that one of them will be in the semis.”