Matteo Berrettini of Italy returns the ball during the second round men’s singles match against Arthur Fils of France at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026.(AP Photo)

After completing a serve-and-volley sequence with a winner on his third match point, Matteo Berrettini turned to his box and nodded. He knew he was on his way.Berrettini, who had slipped out of the top 100 in May, lit up Centre Court to knock out the gifted Frenchman Arthur Fils, the 20th seed, 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 and storm into the third round at Wimbledon.The 30-year-old Italian, the Wimbledon finalist in 2021, has fought a long battle against his own body. Against Fils, he hammered 16 aces and found his best level when it mattered most.“I played a very high-level match. Arthur was also very good,” Berrettini said. “I had a small break in the match in the third set, and then I started serving better in the fourth. I have so much confidence now. It’s been a while since I played so many matches in Grand Slams, in Paris and here as well. Obviously I have had tough moments in my career, but I am happy, I’m smiling, I’m back.”Earlier, French Open champion Alexander Zverev defeated Valentin Royer 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (3) in two hours and four minutes on No. 1 Court.Defending champion Iga Swiatek looked every bit the player who lifted the title last year, if her opening-round test against Taylor Townsend is set aside, as she cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 second-round victory over 2021 finalist Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.