Quote of the Day: Matteo Berrettini would have “signed with my blood” to be in Wimbledon fourth round

WATCH: Having missed last year's Wimbledon and struggling with injuries for much of the past year, Matteo Berrettini is relishing every day he gets to compete at the All England Club, even with all the rain delays mixed in.

On Saturday, Matteo Berrettini set up a blockbuster fourth-round clash with top seed Carlos Alcaraz, by taking down No. 19 Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4). A week ago, he wasn’t even sure he would be competing at Wimbledon.

The Italian had already missed Roland Garros, along with most of the clay and grass season, due to injury. But he was determined not to miss another tournament.

“Few days before, I thought, like, I'm not ready,” Berrettini revealed in a post-match press conference. “But then I missed too many events in the last years. I couldn't leave this place without trying. That's what I said to myself.”

Berrettini effort was rewarded with a victory over Lorenzo Sonego—claiming revenge for his Stuttgart defeat along the way—and then No. 15 seed Alex de Minaur, before defeating Zverev in the third round.

He had to play for five days in a row due to Wimbledon’s scheduling nightmares amid rained-out days and delays—but Berrettini wouldn’t trade it for the world:

Q. How have the lows from last year compared with other parts of your career?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: …Like I said on court, if they told me few weeks ago you're going to play five days in a row in Wimbledon, I would have signed with my blood.

I really spent, like, days in bed thinking about the tournaments that I missed, the injuries that I had, sadness that I was feeling. I was like, I have to come back and feeling alive when I play.

That's the energy I have right now. Doesn't matter how tired I am. In the morning, go there, enjoy. I find that extra energy that maybe few years ago I gave for granted.

That extra energy will be just what he will need when he faces Alcaraz for a spot in the quarterfinals. The Spaniard leads 2-1 in their head-to-head, but it’s their first meeting on grass—and former Stuttgart and Queen’s Club champion Berrettini is determined to set the tone when they meet again on Monday.

“We always give our best. He's No. 1 right now, so he's the best player in the world,” said Berretini. “It's going to be a great challenge. But I'm so glad that I have this opportunity right now.”

“I remember watching him play Roland Garros from my TVs. Now it's going to be me against him. I'm really happy for that,” Berrettini added. “I think this thing is going to help me to go there and enjoy and find that extra energy that I was talking about.”