2026 Roland Garros QF: Matteo Berrettini vs Matteo Arnaldi. The Battle Of The Matteo's.

[Better_Call_Raul]

How does this blockbuster showdown not have its own dedicated thread?

 

[RossiBhoy]

Buonasera ragazzi!

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

who will win this titanic clash?... #104 or #105?
@tennis_pro

Spoiler: good evening citizens... are you berrettinning or arnalding tonight?!

@Hitman

... possibly the slam QF with the lowest-ranked 'highest player' of the open era?
@Moose Malloy

 

[RossiBhoy]

I hope Matteo wins

 

[StrongRule]

who will win this titanic clash?... #104 or #105?
@tennis_pro

Spoiler: good evening citizens... are you berrettinning or arnalding tonight?!

... possibly the slam QF with the lowest-ranked 'highest player' of the open era?
@Moose Malloy

Who is the #104 here?

 

[RossiBhoy]

This is all part of Arnaldi’s plan. He doesn’t start playing until the 4th hour of a match.

 

[RossiBhoy]

Strong start from Matteo B. Forehand and serve looking really good.

 

[NoleFam]

Berrettini off to a flying start. Double break.

 

[RossiBhoy]

Berrettini off to a flying start. Double break.

You have to think Arnaldi has barely anything left in the tank, I think we might see Berrettini get this done in 3.

 

[NoleFam]

You have to think Arnaldi has barely anything left in the tank, I think we might see Berrettini get this done in 3.

Yea Arnaldi has to be running on fumes right now. He's spent a lot of time on court.

 

[ultimathule]

Let's go Matteo!

 

[ultimathule]

Forza!

 

[RossiBhoy]

Arnaldi even takes ages to break. I get tired just watching.

 

[RossiBhoy]

Lovely hold of serve from Matteo A

 

[Terenigma]

I'm still in shock I'm watching Berrettini right now, I thought he was done for career wise after all the injuries and I had low key forgot he existed and then he makes this run here and he's playing pretty great, would be crazy to see him back in another slam final!

 

[ultimathule]

Arnaldi even takes ages to break. I get tired just watching.

clay court tennis

 

[RossiBhoy]

Well this has just been a crazy start. Exactly what an Italian derby should be.

 

[NoleFam]

What the hell Berrettini?

 

[ultimathule]

Things have turned on a dime.

 

[movies99]

Strong start from Matteo B. Forehand and serve looking really good.

They are only things anyone can talk about..

 

[Carax]

What are you doing, Matteo?

To be fair, Matteo didn't start playing that well and now has upped his game. Still, that's no excuse for Matteo to blow up a two-break lead.

Hopefully Matteo can start playing well again so that he can make it competitive against Matteo.

 

[helterskelter]

Who is the #104 here?

Arnaldi. Though Berrettini is currently higher in the live rankings.

... possibly the slam QF with the lowest-ranked 'highest player' of the open era?
@Moose Malloy

Commies say that the last QF between two players with three digit rankings was P. McEnroe v Caratti at AO 1991. Caratti was #101 and McEnroe was #114. Though I suppose that means a slightly higher-ranked "highest player" (101 versus 104) even though it's a slightly higher combined ranking (215 versus 209).

 

[jazzu4ia]

...mattias rinaldi in 5...

 

[helterskelter]

Berrettini is clearly more tired than Arnaldi.

Arnaldi might have been a bit stiff at the start, but now that he's limbered up, he doesn't seem that tired at all.

 

[jazzu4ia]

...impresssive from ronaldi...from 0-3 to 6-3...

 

[RossiBhoy]

Berrettini is clearly more tired than Arnaldi.

Arnaldi might have been a bit stiff at the start, but now that he's limbered up, he doesn't seem that tired at all.

Seems to come in wave for Arnaldi. Last few points of that game he looked very sluggish. No idea who will be affected more by these long games/sets

 

[4UTRMoutet]

An all Italian semifinal and guaranteed Italian in the final!

 

[helterskelter]

Seems to come in wave for Arnaldi. Last few points of that game he looked very sluggish. No idea who will be affected more by these long games/sets

True. To my mind, when he does look tired, it's more disoriented - lack of sleep/body clock out of whack because of the late night - than not being able to run any more. He looks like he can keep running a while, except for when he looks like he needs a nap or an early night.

 

[Terenigma]

Wonderful lob !

 

[RossiBhoy]

What a point!

 

[RossiBhoy]

Matteo B finding his forehand again at the right time. Big hold.

 

[RossiBhoy]

Matteo A’s forehand down the line is a killer of a shot.

 

[jazzu4ia]

...bravo ranaldo !

 

[RossiBhoy]

Im starting to think Matteo A absolutely relishes the grind. No matter how many hours he spends on the court, he’s got enough in him to go again.

 

[Terenigma]

Damn, Was hoping Big Berr could take it to a TB at least, oh well.

 

[movies99]

11 BP opportunities already by Arnaldi..this will be a straight setter..

 

[Hitman]

Bret screwed Bret

and now

Matteo screwed Matteo

 

[NoleFam]

Berrettini was up double break 3-0 and lost the set. Rare to see him so many forehands like this. Arnaldi did well to get back into that set and win it.

 

[RossiBhoy]

Big ask for Matteo B now, he’s struggling to deal with Matteo A’s speed and anything he puts down the backhand side. I think he’s going to need Matteo A to start feeling tired to have a chance.

 

[JMR]

Berrettini is clearly more tired than Arnaldi.

Arnaldi might have been a bit stiff at the start, but now that he's limbered up, he doesn't seem that tired at all.

This is standard for bicycle racers.

 

[Move]

Arnaldi is my favorite Italian Ankle Biter

 

[bullfan]

An all Italian semifinal and guaranteed Italian in the final!

Who would have thought the Italian in the final wasnt Sinner!

 

[Carax]

Didn't realize how much I wanted Berrettini to win until now. Nothing against Arnaldi, though. He's playing great.

 

[RossiBhoy]

Matteo B is cooked I think. Matteo A vs Cobolli will be superb though, they way those two cover the court will make it a ridiculous match.

 

[NoleFam]

Berrettini is getting cooked by a player that spent 17+ hours on court before this match. Berr, I expected better.

 

[helterskelter]

Who would have thought the Italian in the final wasnt Sinner!

If they weren't injured, a final between Alcaraz and Musetti wouldn't have been that surprising a final.

 

[Terenigma]

What was Arnaldi trying to do there? Hit the moon? lol Berrettini breaks back!

MTO? Oh no, ofcourse.

 

[alexio]

medical pause for matteo

 

[EddieChang]

medical pause for matteo

which matteo

 

[RossiBhoy]

Damn, not good this for Berrettini. Gets the break an now needs some treatment.