WATCH: Berrettini won two grass-court tournaments just in time for Wimbledon, only to come down with a scary case of COVID-19.

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Though US Open press conferences have largely returned to their pre-pandemic format, some traces of the polarizing virtual era remain—leading to a particularly hilarious exchange during Matteo Berrettini’s presser.

Asked to look towards the monitor for an incoming virtual question after his five-set victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, audio piped into the main room but no video appeared, causing a befuddled Berrettini to flash several variations of Zoolander’s Blue Steel as he waited to match the voice with a face.

“I feel like you're a ghost,” Berrettini said, having only just survived the in-form Foki, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. “Where are you?”

Ironically, the question concerned the idea that fear—though not necessarily of the supernatural—drives the 2019 semifinalist towards success.

I feel like this year has been tough, surgery, COVID. But here I am again, healthy, and really looking forward to play my quarterfinals. Matteo Berrettini

“I think fear is part of my life, for sure, and my career, as well, and I think everybody's life,” he explained as the inquiring journalist eventually appeared on screen. “For me fear is a big engine, it's something that helps me getting up in the morning, and achieving goals. Without fear I wouldn't be here.

“Obviously, you have to be able to kind of like handle it and overcome it in a way. Otherwise it's gonna be tough; you're not gonna enjoy it.

“I always say when I'm not tight, when I don't have fear to lose, or I don't have something I can miss, I never feel good. When I feel [fear] I don't like it, but I know eventually I'm gonna like it. It's kind of like screwed up, but it works.”

The world No. 14 has overcome plenty of scary moments in this season alone, first when he required surgery for an injury to his right hand in the spring and again when his undefeated run on grass was interrupted by a serious case of COVID-19.

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“I'm really sensitive for COVID,” he explained of his decision to get tested before his first round at Wimbledon. “I didn't lose anybody for COVID, and I thank God for that, but I have people that lost people for COVID.

“I knew that getting tested, if you are positive, you're out. It was really tough. I think even if I didn't get tested, I did the right thing pulling out because it took me three weeks to get back in shape, and I don't know what would have happened if I played, like if I didn't get tested and tried to play. I could have had, I don't know, multiple tears and stuff.

“Obviously now I have an extra motivation. I feel like this year has been tough, surgery, COVID. But here I am again, healthy, and really looking forward to play my quarterfinals.”

Among those him for that last-eight encounter with Norwegian rival Casper Ruud will be good friend Giovanni Bartocci, a New York City restauranteur and owner of East Village’s Via Della Pace. Bartocci famously cheered on his countryman even when fans were barred from attending the pandemic-impacted 2020 US Open, shouting through the locked gates instead.

“I feel like family with him,” he said. “He's really good guy. He treats me well. Even before, when I met him, and before I was, you know, the player that I am right now. So, he has a huge heart.

“I try to help him as much as I can when his restaurant got on fire, and obviously COVID happened, he lost his visa, but now he's back on track. We have been through tough moments, both of us for our careers, and now we are getting better together.”

Finally exorcised, Berrettini will next aim to not only avenge a Gstaad final loss to Ruud last month, but also play for what could be his third Grand Slam semifinal out of his last four major appearances.