Italy’s Matteo Berrettini has called out the unfair treatment by French Open organisers regarding different curfew times during the men’s quarterfinal and the semi-final matches.
Berrettini seemed to be causing Novak Djokovic a few problems during their quarterfinal clash at the recently-concluded French Open.
ALSO READ: Nick Kyrgios finds his match in mixed doubles for Wimbledon
But with Paris following an 11pm curfew, fans were made to stream out mid-way through the match after the Italian took the third set.
With fans reluctant to leave, the players had to pack their bags and head back into the locker room. They came back after 22 minutes on the clock.
Upgrade your serve with our FREE guide
“I think it’s a shame, it’s something that I didn’t like,” the Italian had said after his defeat.
“But it’s bigger than us, it’s not that you can do something about. I was feeling the momentum. I was playing good. Stopping wasn’t the best thing for my tennis, but I had to take it.”
ALSO READ: Indy de Vroome in Wimbledon fashion controversy
World No 1 Djokovic, however, overcame a dip in the third set to win the match 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5.
However, the same rule was not followed during the heavyweight semi-final clash between Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
ALSO READ: Bernard Tomic takes aim at ‘irritating’ ball kids
Fans were allowed to stay the duration of the match, as Djokovic defeated Nadal 3-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2 in an epic clash that lasted for more than four hours.
“At Roland Garros during my match vs Djokovic, the fans left because of the curfew,” Berrettini was quoted saying by Italian newspaper Il Messaggero. “Instead for the Djokovic-Nadal match, they stayed! I got really angry.”
ALSO READ: Five first-round matches to watch out for at Wimbledon 2021
Despite the snub, Berrettini established his grasscourt credentials by winning the Wimbledon tune-up event at the Queen’s Club.
The big-hitting Italian has done reasonably well on the surface and reached the Round of 16 at the grasscourt major in 2019.
