Berrettini, first Italian man to reach Aus Open semis

Matteo Berrettini

Matteo Berrettini created tennis history by reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open with a rollercoaster five-set victory over Gael Monfils on Tuesday.

The seventh seed overcame the French 17th seed in their quarter-final 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-2 to become the first Italian man to reach the last four of the Australian Open.

It was Berrettini's sixth win in seven career five-set battles. Berrettini, a Wimbledon finalist last year, will now face 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal on Friday for a place in Sunday's final.

"It feels unbelievable [to be the first Italian], hopefully there will be a second one tomorrow with Jannik Sinner," Berrettini said of his compatriot, who faces Stefanos Tsitsipas in a quarter-final on Wednesday.

"I was really happy with myself, it was a great fight with Gael, a great match, a lot of emotions. I thought I had him in the third set but then I found myself in the fifth. I really fought hard and I put everything into the court."

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