"One of the worst years of my career" - Matteo Berrettini opens up on his demoralizing 2023 season

Saturday, 05 October 2024 at 07:30

After a triumphant start at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, former World No.6 has shed some light on his forgettable 2023 season, claiming it was the down point of his career.

The Italian tennis star recorded a straight sets win over Australian Christopher O'Connell in their opening round clash at the Shanghai Masters. Berrettini has been facing an upward journey over the past few years, as several injuries have kept him sidelined from the ATP Tour.

2023 season was a year to forget, says Berrettini

In his post-match press conference, the former Wimbledon runner-up spoke on how much he missed tennis during his period of recuperation. Furthermore, he stated to have overcome that obstacle, and was looking forward to reclaiming his spot in the higher-ends of the ATP rankings.

"Last year was very tough, one of the worst years of my career and my life as well," said Berrettini. "When you can't do your job and what you love to do, then it's always a battle. That's why I'm appreciating every moment I have to spend on the court, perform, and give my best. I know it's a process. I've done a great job this year to reclaim my place in the ranking and I feel good, so I hope to have a great end to the season.
"It would be good to be among the top 32 at the end of the year and be a seed in Australia. That's one of the goals we set, but at the same time for me the most important thing is to be healthy and able to play, that's the most important thing."

Arthur Ajayi

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.

As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.

With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.

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