2022 has not been entirely kind to Matteo Berrettini. It did not start badly, with some semifinals at the Australian Open 2022 that seemed to give continuity to the great last season, but the transalpine has had to face a huge number of obstacles that have made his year a real roller coaster. To highlight, of course, the multiple discomforts and injuries that have left him in the dry dock during some sections, with the recovery time that they entail for his return. After reaching the final in the ATP Naples 2022the Roman suffered a new mishap in his foot that does not seem serious, but that forced him to get off the ATP Vienna 2022. From home and in a conversation with Corriere dello Sport, Berrettini clarifies the seriousness of his latest mishap and offers rich reflections on various issues regarding the ATP circuit and the italian tennis.
His last injury, a new inconvenience
“Luckily it is not a serious injury. It was important to avoid any kind of serious injury, but there is fluid in the foot that needs to be removed, so I am carrying out different treatments to make that happen. Then, with my team, we will try to understand what has caused it. We need to be patient. Since I was a child I have always suffered discomfort, since I always push myself to the limit, at 110%. It is known that sport at these levels is not the best for the body In addition, we travel a lot and normally we do it in very different conditions. Sometimes the injury is more mental than anything else. Honestly, seeing everything I’ve been able to play this year, the results are even positive”.
Consequences of injuries: more free time to be at home and cultivate friendships
“Right now I train, I go to the gym, I spend my time with my family. Sometimes I need to get back to a certain perspective of normalcy, forget about the Matteo Berrettini player and focus on the real Matteo, the one who talked to his friends when he went to the school, the one who used to make jokes when I was a child. Those are the things that make me reconnect with reality. My fellow circuit mates also support me: on Tuesday I received a message from Lorenzo Musetti asking me how I was doing. It made me very happy. Thanks to the Davis Cup is developing a friendship off the court. It’s a precious thing: as Federer and Nadal have shown us, tennis goes beyond everything. For example, I would take a trip with ‘Lorenzino’ (Lorenzo Sonego). I should take him to somewhere, we’d have a great time together, because he lets himself go and I’m more of an organizer. It would be a perfect combo. Perhaps South America, he has that Latin essence, he loves to dance.”
Growth of tennis in Italy and creation of a possible ‘Big-3’ with Musetti
“If we compare ourselves to the three that everyone knows, you can’t talk about any of that. Actually, we are much more, not just three players. We are not that far from each other. Sonego has had a difficult year , but he was #20 in the world. Fognini is always dangerous, and together with Bolelli he is signing a great year in doubles. The best thing is that there are already many people who follow us: it doesn’t matter if they prefer me, Musetti or Sinner It’s great that they become fans of tennis, that it enters into popular culture. It’s a very nice thing, but at the same time it’s also dangerous. There is always the risk of absolutely destructive comments coming in.”
The cruelty of social networks
“I’m on social media, but not much. I read it. Sometimes I smile, sometimes it makes me feel bad. More than anything, what surprises me the most is the evil that exists. I wonder how anyone can vent their anger like that.” form against another person. The lack of sensitivity makes me sad, as if we were perfect machines: if we do well and win they put us on a pedestal, if we lose we must be canceled completely. In the end I go to sleep and the next day I am calm , but it’s a shame that tennis is sometimes approached in this way.”
