Matteo Berrettini’s career has been significantly impacted by injuries, hindering his pursuit of even greater achievements in tennis. The former world number six experienced a career high in 2021, reaching the Wimbledon final, where he was defeated by Novak Djokovic. That year, Berrettini faced Djokovic in three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, losing to the Serbian star at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. He also qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin but had to retire in his opening match against Germany’s Sascha Zverev due to an abdominal injury.
The Italian started the 2022 season strongly, advancing to the semifinals of the Australian Open after a notable victory over a young Carlos Alcaraz. However, despite giving Rafael Nadal a tough match, Berrettini lost in four sets at the Rod Laver Arena. Following this, injuries plagued him, leading to a downward spiral that lasted over a year and a half. He missed several tournaments and sustained a serious ankle injury during the 2023 US Open, preventing him from competing in the Davis Cup Finals.
In 2024, Berrettini experienced a resurgence, playing regularly and securing three titles. Fans are hopeful that he can overcome his injury woes and return to the ATP Top 10 in the coming year. Last month, he played a crucial role in Italy’s consecutive Davis Cup victory in Malaga. His next major goal is the 2025 Australian Open, where he hopes for a favorable draw to advance to the second week.
A Deep Affection for Roger Federer
Berrettini has openly acknowledged the challenges he faced over the past two years, even contemplating retirement from the sport. However, he has regained his motivation and is eager to embark on the next chapter of his career, aiming for a Grand Slam title, with Wimbledon being his best opportunity due to his powerful serve, as demonstrated in 2021. Following his split from coach Francisco Roig, Berrettini has appointed Umberto Ferrara as his new fitness coach, though his new head coach has yet to be announced.
In a recent appearance on the ATP’s YouTube series “Love Letter To Tennis,” Berrettini reflected on his early experiences with the sport. He shared, “The first thing they did was give me a tennis racket when I was three, and I remember that I didn’t like tennis, so I stopped playing. I started again at eight because my younger brother encouraged me to come back, saying it would be fun.”
Berrettini also expressed his admiration for Roger Federer, stating, “My brother would always choose Novak Djokovic, and I would always choose Roger Federer. We played for hours in the house, using balloons, small rackets, big rackets—anything, just having fun.” He credits tennis with teaching him resilience and the importance of trusting his team.
Berrettini’s Competitive Edge
When in top form, Berrettini possesses the tools to challenge even the best players in the world. This was evident during the 2024 Wimbledon, where he forced compatriot Jannik Sinner to elevate his game in their second-round match. However, Berrettini’s performance in Masters 1000 events has been less impressive, as he failed to advance beyond the second round in 2024. He aims to build on the confidence gained from the Davis Cup experience and improve in the upcoming season.
Berrettini has been a trailblazer for Italian tennis, paving the way for a new generation of players, including Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti, Lorenzo Sonego, Matteo Arnaldi, and Flavio Cobolli. His achievements have significantly raised the profile of tennis in Italy, and he deserves recognition for his contributions to the sport.
The early months of 2025 will be crucial for Berrettini as he seeks to solidify his status and evaluate his future prospects in professional tennis.
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