"I'm happy, but when you're still in the tournament, you always want to win one more game," he said just after qualifying at the expense of Miomir Kecmanovic 7-5, 7-6 (7/) , 6-3, to afford a tenth Grand Slam quarter-final, the second in Melbourne.

"I'm already focused on the quarter. I want to keep pushing to go as far as possible," he added.

The only clash to date between the athletic Monfils and the slugger Berrettini (apart from the ATP Cup which is played by teams), dates back to the US Open 2019, already in the quarters: the Italian had won in the tie break of the fifth set.

"It was hard! I always remember that game with pleasure, but it will be very hard again on Tuesday," commented the Italian.

At the time, Berrettini was almost unknown.

Monfils was adored by the New York public for his spectacular game.

Today, if the French still attracts crowds, the Italian has become a beast of the circuit, a player ready to win in a Major at the slightest opportunity.

Currently 7th in the world, he remains on a concrete year 2021: 8th at the Australian Open (forfeited on injury), quarters at Roland-Garros and at the US Open, and especially final at Wimbledon.

"Crazy"

Meanwhile, Monfils languished, psychologically damaged by the living and playing conditions imposed by the pandemic.

However, if Berrettini appeared at the start of the season perfectly on his momentum from last year, Monfils surprised by his level, the fruit of work he has been carrying out for a year with the Austrian coach Günter Bresnik.

Gaël Monfils relieved after his victory over the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in Melbourne, January 23, 2022 Aaron FRANCIS AFP

"I work to be more aggressive, to take more risks on my forehand, to serve better...", he listed.

Kecmanovic paid the price on Sunday, especially on an important point in the tie break of the second set: "I let go of a crazy forehand long line. You have to try it! It's confidence, work", explained My son.

In 2016, already, when he reached his first quarter in Melbourne, Monfils had played very well and had only yielded in four sets against "a big Milos (Raonic)" then ranked 14th at the ATP, he recalled on Sunday.

So if today he plays "well", Tuesday he will have to play "VERY well", he insisted.

"Flashy Game"

Because it is a modern Top 10 who will stand up against him: young, powerful from the back of the court with a big serve (28 aces in the round of 16).

Here is how Monfils describes him, a bit like a boxer, less than 48 hours from the shock: "He has been a very, very good player for two years, well anchored in the top 10, one of the best servers on the circuit , a very flashy game with a lot of winners, a huge forehand, he moves better and better. He's someone who really pushes you. A big puncher. It's going to be a big big game.

On paper, the French could have a physical advantage since he has not yet given up a single set of the tournament when Berrettini notably fought a titanic fight in the 3rd round to beat Carlos Alcaraz (31st) in the super tie break of the fifth set , 6-2, 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10/5) in 4:10.

Italian Matteo Berrettini winner of Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in Melbourne, January 23, 2022 William WEST AFP

But listening to them on Sunday after their respective 8th, the most tired would not be the one you think.

"I had a short but intense physical preparation in the off-season due to an injury at the end of the year. I hope to be well for the quarter-finals", asserted the 25-year-old Italian.

"I'm going out very tired! It was very hot, humid," admitted the 35-year-old Frenchman.

"He may be ten years older than me, but in a way he's still very young, his body is perfect and he moves very well," Berrettini said.

Monfils himself sees in his colossal (1.96 m, 95 kg) opponent the favorite of the meeting.

But he is ready to fight: "it's up to me to try to jostle him to try to win".

© 2022 AFP