Matteo Berrettini: Top fit to Australia
Matteo Berrettini is ready for the Australian tennis summer after recovering from an abdominal muscle injury.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Dec 26, 2021, 05:11 pm
"This is probably the worst day I've ever had in my tennis career." This is how Matteo Berrettini commented on his last appearance to date on a match court. What happened? At the ATP Finals in Turin, the Italian had to give up in front of a home crowd in his opening game against Alexander Zverev due to an abdominal muscle injury.
Berrettini was also unable to contest the Davis Cup finals in Turin immediately after the last ATP tournament of the year, but the physical problems should now be a thing of the past. At least that is what the world number seven emphasized in an interview with the daily newspaper "La Gazzetta dello Sport" a few days before his flight to Australia.
Berrettini satisfied with the preparation
"Fortunately, the injury passed relatively quickly and I am now healthy again. I was able to train very well in the preparation period. I trained in Florida, where I found excellent conditions and had many top players to compete with," explained Berrettini.
In the off-season, the 25-year-old was apparently mainly working on his offensive game: "For example, I have to learn to go online more and make my game more vertical. And I have to keep working on my serve so that it remains a strength . "
Berrettini leads Italy
Berrettini, who is due to land in Australia on Monday, will kick off the new season at the ATP Cup in Sydney. There Italy meets in Group B against Australia, Austria and Russia. As the number one in the country, Berrettini will most likely play against Alex de Minaur, Dennis Novak and Daniil Medvedev.
Last season, Berrettini defeated Gael Monfils, Dominic Thiem and Roberto Bautista Agut at the ATP Cup, before Medvedev only proved too strong in the final. At the subsequent Australian Open, however, the Roman had to give up before his round of 16 encounter against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The reason? An abdominal muscle injury.