Italy has had a lot of success in tennis over the past few months. They concluded 2023 with a Davis Cup win, and then they witnessed Jannik Sinner win the Australian Open, taking Italian tennis to a whole other level.
However, before Sinner, there was one player who was extremely close to winning a Slam but has surely made his country proud. Matteo Berrettini, a very skilled tennis star, has reached a career-high ranking of No.6 before falling outside the top 100. He hasn’t played since last year’s US Open due to an ankle injury and has confirmed a comeback in Phoenix.
According to a recent press conference via zoom, Berrettini conveyed that he will skip the Indian wells and will try to return to Miami.
I won't be at Indian Wells, I've taken these weeks to feel as good as possible and it won't be a week more or less that will change things. Then I will play in Miami and the clay season. Berrettini (H/T: supertennis)
Despite all the rigorous gym training, the Italian isn’t fit to return. The 2021 Wimbledon finalist has been regularly posting his gym sessions on Instagram that featured his hard training. Yet he is not ready to make a return as of now.
Italy is already looking dangerous with Sinner in their team. Once Berrettini returns, he surely will take the team to greater heights with his talent.
Matteo Berrettini opens up about his relationship with compatriot Jannik Sinner
Matteo Berrettini, a talented ATP star with a strong backhand, has been sidelined since the US Open due to a long-term term injury. In his absence, it has been the youngster Jannik Sinner who made Italy proud and stood out among the other countries in tennis.
Even though Berrettini hadn’t played in the Davis Cup, he received immense praise from his compatriots, Sinner being one of them. The Australian Open winner had praised Berrettini for his previous achievements and showed his respect towards the 27-year-old.
Likewise, even Berrettini has the same respect towards Sinner. In an interview with Corriere Dello Sport, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist revealed his initial thoughts on Sinner.
As always, I have great respect for Jannik Sinner, the first time I played him in Monte Carlo I immediately realized that the boy was special.
Furthermore, the Italian also reckons Sinner is a favorite for the Wimbledon, and believes that after an expensive clay season, it will be Sinner with a win. The two have great respect for each other but can face one another soon. With Berrettini’s enormous amount of work put in the gym, his return looks promising enough, but there has been no official notice from him.
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