Matteo Berrettini has opened up about his injury-filled season and the toll it has taken on him emotionally.
27-year-old Berrettini has been dealing with injuries throughout his run on this year's
ATP Tour. After his first-round exit at the Australian Open in January, he was absent from the sport for two months before an abdominal injury forced him to pull out of the Monte-Carlo Masters in the third round.
Nevertheless, he seemed to be making a steady comeback when he reached the fourth round at the grasscourt major. This was despite having to withdraw from the Queen's Club Championships just beforehand, where he had been hoping to defend his title.
Berrettini opens up on emotional toll
However, Berrettini faced further heartbreak in the second round of the
US Open. The Italian player sustained an ankle injury during the match and collapsed to the ground. He let out a piercing cry of pain and frustration as officials ran to his aide and had to retire from yet another match.
Berrettini recently gave an update on his recovery in an interview with Sky Sports Italy, as he was forced to sit out the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage this week, where Team Italy qualified for the last 8 in Malaga in November.
"I'm recovering well, the injury was less serious than expected. I'm better, after what happened this year I felt more injured inside than outside. These days have helped me find the right energy again, thinking that I can play in Malaga gives me energy," he said.
The World No. 66 added that despite the difficulties, his injuries have made him rediscover his motivations for being a professional tennis player in the first place.
"They were bad moments, which I did not like. But they were fundamental to make me rediscover the reasons for the joy of doing what I started as a child and that has occupied my whole life. I thought back to the origins to find myself. The darkness gave me the space to do it," he said.