"Made us better human beings": Matteo Berrettini's ex-coach of 13 years Vincenzo Santopadre sends heartfelt message

Matteo Berrettini's ex-coach of 13 years Vincenzo Santopadre sent a heartfelt message to the Italian tennis star after their recent split.

Santopadre guided the 27-year-old through the majority of his career so far. This included helping him to 7 ATP titles and the final of Wimbledon in 2021, as well as to a career-high ranking of World No. 6. Unfortunately, Berrettini has been absent for the majority of the 2023 season due to injury but is hoping to return in 2024.

When he does make a comeback, it is clear he is hoping for a fresh start as he announced recently that he was parting ways with longtime coach Santopadre. "I'm happy and grateful to the people who made our meeting possible, and proud of us for how we used this gift that was given to us," Berrettini wrote to his coach on Instagram.

Now, his ex-coach has sent an emotional message of his own to his former student, thanking him for a "healthy, positive, and winning" 13 years. "Matt, or better 'ni',

"Here I am to thank you for the path we walked together, a path that very few people beside us really know and which complicity I jealously guard. A complicity that often didn't require a word to understand each other and made us better human beings. A complicity made of esteem, respect, comprehension, and a reception which never made us argue with each other! It seems impossible, but it really is true... "We helped each other to grow up, and I'm thankful to you for this. Time by time, we build a healthy, positive and winning relationship (and I'm not talking about acing your opponents on break points!)," he wrote.

Moreover, the 52-year-old talked of how they "worked to improve together" and said he will always be there for Berrettini in the future. "We worked a lot: we worked for us, we worked to improve together, to follow with patience our dream without wasting a single moment, living our 13-year relationship with seriousness and lightness. "Ni, we shared everything and we're sharing even this decision, which we think is the best for the two of us. I'll always be there with you and for you," he continued.