"It will be very tough for him to return to the highest level" - Italian tennis great has grim prediction for Matteo Berrettini
ATP
After his opening round loss at the 2025 Hangzhou Open last week, Italian tennis star Matteo Berrettini could face a long road to rediscovering his best form, according to retired tennis star Paolo Bertolucci.
Berrettini faced lucky loser Dalibor Svrcina in the first round in Hangzhou, with the hopes of building some momentum as the season winds to a close. However, the former World No.6 look out of sorts, and was defeated in straight sets by his much younger Czech opponent.
Prior to competing in Hangzhou, Berrettini's last professional match was at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, where he lost in the first round. The Italian had pulled out of the French Open earlier this year due to an oblique injury, and ultimately skipped the entirety of the hard-court summer, including the US Open.
Berrettini's recent struggles with injury have prompted a cause for concern, as he has missed seven Grand Slam events in the last four years. The former Wimbledon runner-up once climbed to World No.6 in the rankings, in addition to reaching Australian Open and US Open semifinals.
Regaining his form will be an uphill battle, says Bertolucci
The former World No.12 spoke at length about Berrettini's recent form in an interview with news outlet Adnkronos. Bertolucci believes Berrettini will have to garner a lot of matches under his belt and remain injury-free if the 29-year old hopes to return to his title winning ways.
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"His [Berrettini’s] situation is very delicate, we all know that," began Bertolucci. “If he doesn’t find the best shape from a physical and mental point of view, it will be very tough for him to return to the highest level.
“His loss in Hangzhou did not surprise me, because he had not played for 80 days, and it was impossible for him to express a high level of tennis. He has to play at least ten matches before he can show anything good on the court, hoping that there are no new injuries."
“His loss in Hangzhou did not surprise me, because he had not played for 80 days, and it was impossible for him to express a high level of tennis. He has to play at least ten matches before he can show anything good on the court, hoping that there are no new injuries."
Berrettini's next challenge will be at the Japan Open, where he takes on Spaniard Jaume Munar in the opening round.
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Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
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