"When I first felt it, I was like, Wait, what? Why am I cramping?" - Matteo Berrettini overcomes scare as he masterfully adapts from clay to hardcourt

Adapting and adjusting were the words Matteo Berrettini emphasised the most after defeating Adrian Mannarino in the opening round of Indian Wells. He is coming off the back of playing on the Golden swing and with conditions not stable in California, he was happy in how he coped with them with a tricky test next up.

Once again, injuries halted Berrettini's start to 2026, but this is now a fourth competition on the spin he has featured in. It was not looking good from the off with the Frenchman taking a 4-0 lead in the opening set. Berrettini clawed one game back, but he could not get on terms in the set and had to win the hard way.

He was broken back halfway through the second set but left it late to draw the tie level before waiting for the 12th game in the third set as well to get over the line in a 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 triumph.

"Yeah, really, really hard. You could see at the end of the match how hard I worked," he told the Tennis Channel after the match. "He’s a hell of a player. It was the first time that I beat him. He’s a lefty, you know, so tricky — especially in these conditions. It wasn’t easy to get through him, so I really fought hard and I’m proud of that."

Berrettini is someone who likes to hit the ball with huge swings, watching it more times than not flash past his opponent while utilising his big serve to get on top in a contest. However, these conditions are not the most suited to his style that he would normally like to use.

"It’s always been tricky. As you said, it’s pretty dry, so the ball is going through the air quickly, but the courts are pretty rough, so it’s not easy," he acknowledged. "I have to say that changing the balls made a big difference — I feel like I have more control here this year."

He was in desperate need to adapt and adjust his game regularly through the match for what he describes as changing conditions. "Even during the match, the conditions changed a lot. At the beginning it was sunnier and the ball was moving a bit more. Later, after the sun went down, I felt like I had more control." He did this well, and that was one of the reasons why he progressed. "But that’s what we do — we adapt and adjust — and I did it pretty well today."

For the past month, Berrettini has been located in South America competing on the Golden swing. This includes tournaments in Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Aside from a quarterfinal in the Rio Open, there was not much to really talk about.

Now, he would have to make that change from clay to hardcourt with the Sunshine double fast approaching. While many people would focus on the tennis itself, the conditions played a part in proceedings with cramp an issue for the Italian.

"It started in the middle of the third set and I think I handled it pretty well," he said. "Like I said on court, I didn’t feel that great in the previous days. I had a bit of flu or something like that. I think that’s why I got the cramps, because normally I don’t cramp — it’s never really happened like that on court."

There was confusion at first, but in the end he got to the bottom of it. "I played in South America a few weeks ago and it was pretty humid and nothing happened. So when I first felt it, I was like, Wait, what? Why am I cramping? I wasn’t even sweating that much. But then I remembered I’d had a bit of fever before, and it’s normal. Like we said before, we adjust and adapt. I tried to shorten the rallies a little bit more. Especially in the last game, when I felt it was about to start again. Luckily on match point I just let it go."

The decision to make the change from hardcourt to clay back to hardcourt is one not taken up by many of the top players in the world. Berrettini, on the other hand, was adamant about his decision. "A lot of things. I grew up on clay, and clay is one of my favourite surfaces," he admitted. "I didn’t have the chance to play much on clay in the last seasons because something always happened during the European clay swing."

Familt reasons were also a huge motive, but the chance to compete at the top level on clay was a tantalising option. "I always wanted to enjoy the clay a little bit more. I’ve also got family in Brazil, so it’s always nice to go over there. The energy is amazing — South America is a special place for tennis. You really feel the love for the sport."

It was something decided ages ago, not at the last minute. "We made the decision many months ago and felt like it was a good swing for us. I have to say there were some good battles. It’s very tough to play over there because all the South American players love those conditions. But it was good preparation for what’s coming next."

It had been a long time in the making for former world number four Thomas Enqvist to join Berrettini's entourage at an ATP event. "We started in the preseason and then we went to Australia together. Unfortunately, I couldn’t play there. Then we decided that for South America I would go with my other coach, and that we would meet again here for the Sunshine Swing."

Prior experience meeting him was enough motivation for the former Wimbledon finalist to get him on board in what will hopefully be a relationship full of success. "Thomas is just such a nice guy. I had the chance to meet him at the Laver Cup in 2021 — a long time ago when I was younger — and I just loved the energy he brought to the team and to everyone around him," he commented.

"He was one of the first names that came to my mind. Of course he’s a legend of the sport — the way he played and fought — but more than that it’s about the energy and the special person he is. I’m really excited to work with him. Tonight feels special because it’s our first win together."

There is not much explanation needed. The world number four has not featured that much since coming within a game of reaching a second consecutive Australian Open final. He went out early in a huge upset in the Mexican Open but won the doubles tournament, keeping spirits and momentum high.

They have faced off a number of times in the past, with the German just edging the head-to-head record 4-3. Berrettini, nevertheless, has got the most recent win at last year's Monte-Carlo Masters.

"He’s obviously a hell of a player — number four in the world, if I’m not mistaken. He doesn’t need any introduction," he said.

"We’ve had some great matches in some of the most important tournaments in the world and always had great fights. So for sure it’s going to be a good match. Like we said, the conditions here can be tricky, so we’ll see what time we play. But I’m excited and happy that I’m back playing these kinds of players again."