Berrettini tells Italians to buy new TVs
Matteo Berrettini told his compatriots to buy new televisions for what he expects to be a special day that will see him play the Wimbledon final before Italy faces England in the UEFA Euro 2020 final.
Berrettini will become the first Italian to feature in a singles final at Wimbledon when he faces world No.1 Novak Djokovic, bidding for a record-tying 20th grand slam title, at the All England Club.
Over in north London, Italy will look to break England hearts at Wembley by lifting the European championship trophy, three years on from failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
The twin tales of sporting unlikelihoods will have the attention of a nation that could well be celebrating a dual triumph by the time Bjorn Kuipers blows the final whistle to end UEFA Euro 2020.
Speaking after his four-set semi-final win over Hubert Hurkacz, Berrettini said: "I will tell them to buy a nice TV if they don't have one already because I think it's going to be a special Sunday [Monday AEST] for all of us.
"It's something crazy to believe for us, obviously let's say tennis, because it's never happened [at Wimbledon]. So it's something that nobody expected, me in the first place.
"Then for football, because I mean, we didn't qualify for the World Cup, so after that the job that they did, how hard they worked, the effort that they put, I think they really deserve this final.
"For Italian people in general, it's going to be tough Sunday, no? But I think we deserve it.
"It's a great day, great sport day. I'm really happy that together with football now [tennis] is one of the biggest sports in Italy."
