Bertolucci gives scathing assessment of Berrettini after early Indian Wells exit: "Undoubtedly tells of a boy in crisis"

Former Italia tennis legend Paolo Bertolucci gave an assessment of Berrettini following his Indian Wells exit calling him 'a boy in crisis' which is rather harsh.

Berretitni recently sat down with Italian media and dismissed worry about his recent poor form, particularly the line that he was focused more on his new romance than the tennis court. The Italian also highlighted that he believes fully in his methods and has no worries about a couple of bad results.

Bertolucci however seems to disagree:

"The season is certainly still young, and it certainly can still reserve him a virtuous path, but there is no doubt that Berrettini's performance since the Australian Open raises more than a doubt about the current competitiveness at the highest level of a player who is less two years ago he was contending with Novak Djokovic for the Wimbledon title."

He continued:

"Indian Wells was supposed to represent a fundamental stage for the relaunch. And instead his run was interrupted in the debut match against the not-irresistible Japanese Daniel, in a match in which our champion showed a poor return on service, too much foulness with the forehand and still some hindrance in the movements. It was a shared idea that the one-month stop after the early elimination in Melbourne could allow him to refine his preparation. On the contrary, the withdrawal in Acapulco against Holger Rune and the stoppage in California arrived."

Unlike many, Bertucci solely focused on his tennis and disregarding his private life:

"I'm not interested in an assessment of his private behavior, I limit myself to commenting on his performance on the court, which undoubtedly tells of a boy in crisis. I am convinced that he does not feel arrived. And therefore act accordingly with drastic choices that allow him to interrupt this spiral, perhaps thinking of increasing technical support, seeking new stimuli from a figure who does not replace but works alongside Vincenzo Santopadre."