Matteo Berrettini had not set foot on the Parisian clay since 2021. Five years, recurring injuries, countless doubts. On Monday, the Italian turned the page with a commanding comeback against Marton Fucsovics, winning 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 in the first round of Roland-Garros.
The opening set offered a stark reminder of the road traveled. Berrettini played well until the tiebreak, where he dropped five mini-breaks and fell 7-2. The Hungarian, steady and combative, appeared to have found his rhythm.
The second set was the turning point. Berrettini elevated his serve and found greater depth on his forehand, rediscovering the firepower that carried him to the 2021 quarter-finals in Paris. A decisive break in the twelfth game gave him the set 7-5 and unleashed the former world No. 6.
The third and fourth sets belonged entirely to the Italian. Berrettini attacked relentlessly, driving deep forehands and approaching the net with renewed conviction. Fucsovics, physically affected by the heat, could offer only token resistance as Berrettini closed out 6-1, 6-2.
This victory marks Berrettini's first Grand Slam win since the 2025 Australian Open. Now ranked around 40th in the world, the Italian showed he remains a force in major tournaments when his body cooperates. He will face Arthur Rinderknech in the second round.
At 30, Berrettini is no longer chasing the time he lost. He is building a new chapter, one match at a time. Monday's in Paris tasted like a rebirth.
