NEW YORK (Reuters) - There has been no shortage of talk at the U.S. Open about where the challenge to the domination of the Big Three of Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer might come from and none of it included a burly 23-year-old pasta-loving Roman.
But big-hitting Matteo Berrettini put himself into that conversation on Wednesday with a gritty, workmanlike effort that no doubt earned the approval of his Italian countrymen, battling past 13th seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils 3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6 7-6(5) to reach a first Grand Slam semi-final.
If Federer is tennis's version of a sleek Ferrari then Berrettini is the big-engine muscle car.
Standing six-foot, five-inches (1.98m) with a scruffy beard Berrettini cuts an imposing figure, a Rocky-like underdog who packs a similar punch as the fictional boxer and is now one win away from a shot at the title.
"I was dreaming about this when I was a child," grinned Berrettini. "So now I'm doing that.
"I have to enjoy what I'm doing but I have to look forward what to do, what I want to do.
"I'm in semis. I'm trying to keep going and I'm dreaming, as well.
"Why not?"
Four years ago Berrettini was playing a Futures event in Italy and on Wednesday became the first Italian man since Corrado Barazzutti 42 years ago to reach the U.S. Open semi-finals.
Berrettini, who had never made it beyond the fourth round of any Grand Slam before, has ventured into uncharted territory but what the ceiling is for the big Italian not even long time coach Vincenzo Santopadre could offer a guess.
"I really don't know what are his limits because he's still going up, up, up," said Santopadre. "So it's difficult to say where he can arrive, what he can reach because I think nobody knows because he's so young and he continues growing.
Despite winning a pair of titles this year and sitting a respectable 25th in the world rankings Berrettini was not on anyone's Flushing Meadows radar.
A lack of consistent performances have plagued the 23-year-old's progress but the potential is clear.
Offsetting a fourth round a appearance at Wimbledon and U.S. Open semi-final are a string of first round flops that have included the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami and Cincinnati.
While Berrettini possesses all the physical tools, there is still work to be done on his mental game and he's talking to his mental coach every day at the year's final Grand Slam.
Also part of Berrettini's team in New York is Giovanni Bartocci - the owner of a trattoria in the East Village where he goes for the pasta dinners that have fuelled his run to the last four.
"He's from Rome, my city," smiled Berrettini. "I knew him last year. He's such a nice guy.
"He's always cheering for Italians. I mean, I'm the only one left, so now he's cheering for me."
(Editing by Sudipto Ganguly)
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