M. BERRETTINI/J. Rodionova
6-3, 7-6
Team Italy - 1
Team Austria - 0
THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions for Matteo.
Q. I'm from Belgium. I have a question. You are maybe one set away to be qualified for the semifinal. Did you have time to watch the tie yesterday? What did you think about the Belgian team?
MATTEO BERRETTINI: We're so far away from semifinals. We really have to be focused. Tennis, it's tricky.
But obviously we watched a little bit yesterday. It was a really tricky match to watch the Moutet one. We saw how the match went. We saw the end of Rinderknech and Zizou.
Of course, when we're here, we're always watching. We played them last year. We know Belgium is a really tough opponent.
Again, we still have to win today, then later hopefully we can talk about the next tie.
Q. Could you talk us through how you're feeling right now to have gotten another win in Davis Cup? In particular, can you talk us through the hold from Love-40 in the second set?
MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, I mean, I was really happy to step on court. I was really happy actually to be called first, then to come here, enjoy this atmosphere, the team, teammates, my good friends. It's just so special for me.
Really one of the reasons why I'm playing tennis is to feel this kind of energy, to feel these kind of emotions. I'm really happy. Then obviously I'm happy that I won. I'm not just playing for myself, but for my team, for my country.
In that game, I would say I'm wise enough tennis-wise to know that games like that can happen. With my serve, I can hold regardless of the score. I told myself to take one point at a time. I served well. I think I was really clutch. I'm glad for that.
Q. You've been through a lot in recent years with your career. The continuing journey on the road back into the top levels, how important is Davis Cup in that journey for you?
MATTEO BERRETTINI: It's so important. It's so important. It's always been so important. I understood throughout my career that living these kind of feelings and emotions, atmosphere, is really what makes me feel alive when I do this sport.
I know there are no ATP points. I know that it's a competition that they say lost a little bit of value throughout the years. But I personally find the best feelings when I play. I'm not talking about my game, but the proudness or the team effort, the chemistry that you build with your teammates.
It's so important and help me so much, especially in the last two years when I was struggling a little bit. Sometimes I was struggling to find the right motivations to come back. Davis Cup was one of them.
I'm so glad that I pushed through and now I'm here enjoying this time.
Q. Just sitting in the stands, that full house Davis Cup feel, that is the Davis Cup right there. What did that feel like compared to playing away or out of the new format the last few years where you haven't played in Italy?
MATTEO BERRETTINI: We were lucky enough to have the previous rounds in Bologna for three years in a row, then I think lucky enough to play the Finals in Malaga, which is not far from Italy. It was always a full house when we were playing there. We always felt like home.
It's so important for us. When you sing the national anthem, you're there with your teammates. I always think about when I was a kid and I was watching them on TV singing. I was like, One day it would be good to be there (smiling).
That's why I think it's special to just believe in your dreams and keep working, because sometimes it's happening. When it happens, you have to appreciate that.
I'm really glad of my journey. I know there were tough moments, there were injuries. But at the end of the day it's a really good career and I'm really happy. I'm healthy now. I want to enjoy this competition.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports