What happened the last time Matteo Berrettini reached a Masters 1000 quarter-final as he prepares for Taylor Fritz clash in Miami

 

Matteo Berrettini Eyes Miami Open Semi-Final as He Prepares for Taylor Fritz Clash

Matteo Berrettini is in strong form at the Miami Open, reaching a Masters 1000 quarter-final as he continues his pursuit of a first title at this level.

The Italian has enjoyed a solid start to his 2025 season, highlighted by a breakthrough victory at the Qatar Open, where he secured his first-ever win over 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in Doha.

Now, Berrettini has carried that momentum into Miami, defeating Hugo Gaston, Zizou Bergs, and Alex de Minaur to advance to just the fourth Masters 1000 quarter-final of his career—and his first since 2021.

Berrettini Ends Four-Year Masters 1000 Quarter-Final Drought

The last time Berrettini reached this stage of a Masters 1000 event was at the 2021 Madrid Open, where he delivered some of his best tennis on clay.

That year, he defeated several clay-court specialists en route to his maiden Masters final, where he faced Germany’s Alexander Zverev.

Berrettini’s 2021 Madrid Open run:

• Semi-finals: Def. Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4
• Quarter-finals: Def. Cristian Garin 5-7, 6-3, 6-0
• Round of 16: Def. Federico Delbonis 7-6, 6-4
• Round of 32: Def. Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-4

Berrettini started strong in the final, winning the first set in a tight tiebreak. However, Zverev fought back to claim the title with a 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Reflecting on the loss, Berrettini remained optimistic:
“This was my first final, hopefully it’s not going to be my last. Unfortunately, I didn’t play my best tennis today—credit to him for making that difficult. That’s why tennis is such a tricky sport.”

Berrettini vs. Fritz: Can the Italian End His Losing Streak?

Berrettini now faces a tough challenge in the Miami Open quarter-finals against world No. 4 Taylor Fritz.

The Italian has struggled in their previous meetings, losing all four of his matches against the American, including their most recent clash at the 2024 US Open.

Head-to-head record:

• 2024 US Open (Round of 64): Fritz def. Berrettini 6-3, 7-6, 6-1
• 2023 United Cup (Final): Fritz def. Berrettini 7-6, 7-6
• 2021 Indian Wells (Round of 32): Fritz def. Berrettini 6-4, 6-3
• 2019 Davis Cup (Round Robin): Fritz def. Berrettini 5-7, 7-6, 6-2

Fritz, who struggled in the early months of 2025, has found his rhythm in Miami, winning his first three matches without dropping a set. His most impressive victory came against Denis Shapovalov in the third round, avenging a recent loss to the Canadian in Dallas.

A First Miami Semi-Final on the Line

Neither Berrettini nor Fritz has ever reached the semi-finals in Miami, making this a huge opportunity for both players.

Berrettini, who secured his first wins at the event this year, will look to turn the tide against Fritz when they face off in the quarter-finals on Thursday, March 27.