Matteo Berrettini let a two-set-to-love lead slip and then rolled on his ankle early in the fifth set of his third round exchange against teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open.
The seventh-seeded Italian, still struggling from the after-effects of food poisoning, however, was all guts in the decider to come away with a 6-2, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10-5) win in four hours and 10 minutes.
Berrettini, who limped to his chair after the fall, bounced back quickly. "I was telling myself that the guy that would win the match was the guy that wanted it more. I guess I wanted it more," the 25-year-old said. "This is the sentence I was telling myself, to feel ready. In the end, it's about fighting and trying to do the right things. I really fought hard. That made the difference."
Berrettini, who won 78 percent of points on his first serve, was up and away in the first two sets. Then Alcaraz, who topped the Italian in Vienna last year in a deciding tie-break, blasted his way into the match attacking his opponent's second serve to even the contest.
"Today, I was better than him in certain moments," the seventh seed said. "And, yeah, for sure, the fact that he's young, and in a Slam is different than in a normal tournament."
Berrettini applauded the 18-year-old world No. 31's ability. "At his age, I didn't have ATP points, he'll only improve. Today he showed his potential."
Alcaraz, who sparked the court with 51 winners, said he was ready for the big stage. "When I've played the top players, apart from Rafa, I was close," he said. "I have the level to play against the top players."
