Matteo Berrettini splits with coach of 13 years Vincenzo Santopadre amid injury: "You turned my dreams into reality"

Matteo Berrettini has announced that he has split with his coach of 13 years Vincenzo Santopadre as the Italian player continues to recover from injury.

The 27-year-old won seven titles on the ATP Tour under the tutelage of Santopadre, starting with the Swiss Open back in 2018. His most recent victory came at the 2022 Queen's Club Championships.

This season, Berrettini has had to deal with multiple injuries. He was forced to withdraw from his third-round match at the Monte Carlo Masters due to injury and subsequently missed the French Open and a chance to defend his Queen's Club title.

Read also

"Been screaming that for 20 years": Martina Navratilova in favour of campaign to remove let rule from tennis

Although he came back at Wimbledon, he sustained an ankle injury in his second-round match at the US Open which saw him retire from the match and leave the venue in a wheelchair. He has not competed since then and recently revealed that he would not return until 2024.

Berrettini sends heartfelt message to ex-coach

Berrettini announced the split on Instagram along with a heartfelt message thanking Santopadre for all his help and guidance over the years.

"I found myself in your ‘tennis embrace’ not knowing what I wanted to do in life. You turned my dreams into reality, keeping me connected to the moments we shared day by day.

Read also

"They know what happened": Israeli former player Andy Ram calls out Novak Djokovic for lack of support

"I don't think I can put it down something that can really express what I feel for you. Gratitude, affection, respect, admiration, gratitude, joy and everything that is beautiful in our relationship.

"This is just a professional goodbye that probably increases our personal relationship. I've felt you on my side in every difficult moment faced in the last 13 years and, although there have been many hardships, I feel only joy thinking to me and you.

"I'm happy and grateful to the people who made us meet, and proud of us for how we have exploited this gift that has been granted to us. Without you there would have been Matteo Berrettini, but there wouldn't have been The Hammer," he wrote.