Matteo Berrettini leaves Rome

Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Today Rome received another home blow.

Matteo Berrettini, who recently battled tonsillitis, officially left Rome today.

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Berrettini joins world number two and Italian Davis Cup hero Jannik Sinner when leaving the Eternal City.

The 95th-ranked Italian, who won his first ATP title in almost two years in Marrakech last month, was upset today when he met the media in Rome to announce his retirement.

“I’m not ready to perform and give my best on the court,” Berrettini said. “I tried everything because this tournament is special for me. I would say I need to put my heart aside, use my brain a little more, think about what matters most to me, which is my health and not getting hurt again. , potentially being away from ships for months.

“It is with great sadness that I have to decline participation. Just think about this 2025 tournament and hopefully nothing will happen. Maybe I would like something to happen, so that nothing would happen. out.”

Rome 2020 quarter-finalist Berrettini has not played at his home tournament since 2021, when he reached the round of 16, losing Stefanos Tsitsipas.

A series of injuries and illnesses have left Berrettini, 28, to the point where he sometimes wonders if he is a victim of voodoo.

“Sometimes I feel like there’s some kind of voodoo ritual going on against me (laughs), a possession,” Berrettini joked. “Then the rational part takes over. This is very difficult because, like all of us, in every job, in everything we do, we tend to make a plan.

“We decided to stop playing in Munich in order to be well prepared for Madrid and Rome. Then the plan fell apart. It's hard to make a plan, feel good, and then fall again. You lose a little confidence. Eventually you start to wonder.” not how you will play, but whether you will play. And the sudden change in approach to the tournament tires you the most.”

Limited to seven matches this season, Berrettini, ranked 95th, said battling a string of injuries can be tiring at times but he is trying to keep a clear head and is committed to a healthy comeback.

“You lose a lot of energy keeping yourself under control, taking medications, seeing how you feel that day and the next day,” Berrettini said. “Sometimes I feel tired of this situation.

“Then I stop for a moment, clear my mind and think I'm ready to face it all because I love playing. And especially to play here. So I’m making an effort and will continue to do so.” ”

Photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty