‘I’ve Really Missed All of This’- Matteo Berrettini Turns Grateful After Finally Finding Form at Phoenix Challenger

Matteo Berrettini has defied the odds to make it to the Phoenix Challenger finals after experiencing a difficult time highlighted by injuries and personal strife. The Italian player’s journey to the semifinal round hasn’t been straightforward. But after overcoming the challenges, Berrettini is all set to make his glorious return on-court. Like most of his fans, Berrettini himself too “missed” being part of the competitive world of tennis, as he recently confessed on his social media post.

Because of ongoing injuries that limited his on-court effectiveness, the 27-year-old player had a rough start to the season as he had to withdraw his name from the Australian Open. He also had to deal with personal issues as he worked through a challenging breakup with his girlfriend. Even though these losses could have halted his career, Berrettini refused to let hardship define him. His latest post on Instagram reflects his enthusiasm and relief after being back on-court.

Matteo Berrettini’s message before the Phoenix Challenger Final

After experiencing a series of hard times in his professional and personal life, Matteo Berettini finally saw some light through the tunnel. His heartfelt social media post, after qualifying for the finals of the Phoenix Challenger, captioned as, “I’ve really missed all of this. Final tomorrow ” evoked excitement and appreciation among his fans.

The 2021 Wimbledon finalist withdrew from the Australian Open on Day 1 due to a right foot injury, adding to the long list of health problems that have troubled the Italian. His defeat last year to Andy Murray in Australia and missing the French Open because of his abdominal issues further added to the bad luck that he experienced.

Not only that, he also suffered from a right ankle injury during the US Open, later confirming it to be a ruptured ligament. He also publicly announced his split from Melissa Satta and opened up about his “intense relationship” with her. But keeping everything in the past, he now moves on to the next chapter of his life. His incredible performance on the court in the latest match made his comeback prominent in the tennis world.

Berrettini’s inspirational revival on-court

The former World No. 6, Matteo Berrettini, completed his double victory on Saturday at the ATP Challenger Tour 175 event. After defeating French qualifier Terence Atmane 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(6), the Italian took the court again over three hours later and defeated Australian Aleksandar Vukic 7-6(2), 7-6(2) in the last four.

Also read: Matteo Berrettini Withdraws from the Australian Open After Suffering Yet Another Injury

“I really pushed through. So many sad moments unfortunately and I think that’s where I found the energy today, I just thought about the injuries and [those] moments. I’m just enjoying my time on court,” Berrettini said after his victory.

His ranking dropped to number 125 in January after his consecutive absences and defeats on the court. But now, as he gradually progresses towards the final showdown for the Phoenix Challenger title, fans are eagerly waiting to see him regain his glorious position in the sporting community again.

Read more: Doubtful Matteo Berrettini Sees No Respite As Draw Makers Present Herculean Australian Open Task