Matteo Berrettini Still Has Something to Say

The reason for the loss was familiar and deflating: another physical problem, one serious enough to force his withdrawal from the Australian Open. It was a significant blow for the Italian, particularly given how much momentum he had built in the closing weeks of the previous year.

But he’s back now, and his return has offered immediate encouragement.

Berrettini wins in Buenos Aires

One of the lingering concerns surrounding Berrettini has been whether his weapons would still be sharp after so much time lost to injury. The answer, at least in his first official match of 2026, was a reassuring yes. The serve remains a genuine threat and the forehand can still hurt most players on a given day. His backhand continues to be the weaker wing, but he’s spent his entire career finding ways to work around it and that isn’t going to change suddenly at 29.

His first official match of the year came in Buenos Aires on clay, where he faced Federico Coria, a genuine clay court specialist who plays a particularly tricky brand of tennis. Coria is smart, patient, and adept at using the surface to neutralize power, making him a difficult first opponent for any player shaking off rust. 

Berrettini handled it well. He wasn’t flawless, wasting more than a few chances along the way, but he was aggressive, he served with purpose, and he made Coria work for every single point. The first set was a close one but one which Berrettini claimed, and in the second he raced out to a 3-0 lead before allowing Coria a foothold back into the match. He steadied himself, though, and closed it out in straight sets.

For a first match back in tricky conditions, that was an encouraging performance.

The weeks ahead will reveal whether he can sustain it, but the most important question has never really been about tennis quality. It has always been about availability. When Berrettini is on the court and healthy, he is a problem for virtually anyone. 

Getting him to that court and keeping him there has been the challenge that has defined the past few years of his career, and until that changes, the talent will remain frustratingly dormant. One match won’t answer that question, but it’s a start, and for Berrettini right now, a start is everything.