Matteo Berrettini Announces Sad News For Brazilian Fans

World Number eight Matteo Berrettini concluded his season 2019 after a win over Dominic Thiem at ATP World Tour Finals. With that victory, he became the first Italian to win a match at the year-end tournament. But in 2020, the top-ranked Italian seems to be driven by injuries.

Berrettini has withdrawn from the Rio Open 2020 in Brazil, pertaining to a groin injury. With his absence, Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer moves into the main draw. The Italian would have been the second seed of the tournament behind Thiem. And now, Diego Schwartzman takes his spot.

The Rome native Berrettini couldn’t represent his nation Italy at ATP Cup 2020. Since Davis Cup Finals 2019 and until the beginning of 2020, he was dealing with an abdominal injury.

Matteo Berrettini at Australian Open 2020

At Australian Open 2020, Berrettini held a straight victory in the first round against England’s Andrew Harris, but then he was stunned 7-6(7), 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 7-5  by the eventual quarterfinalist Tennys Sandgren in the next round. “It’s a Top 10 win at a Slam, so it’s up there for sure,” said Sandgren, who was then ranked outside the top 100 ATP rankings.

Other withdrawals

With tennis players being habituated to injuries, on regular basis players keep withdrawing from the ATP Tournaments. The Japanese ace Kei Nishikori has delayed his return to the tour due to elbow injury. And Juan Martin del Potro‘s knee is hindering his return to professional tennis since Queens’ Championship 2019.

Another such example, the three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray has also delayed his return to the ATP circuit in the 2020 season. The Briton will be absent from Miami Open 2020.

After his comeback victory in Antwerp, Murray traveled to Spain for the Davis Cup, but he couldn’t really give his best in the tournament. His bruised pelvic issues are delaying the resumption of his tennis career in 2020.

 “I don’t want to rush anything or put a timeline on my recovery. I’m going to listen to my body and step back on the court to compete when the time is right,” he said upon the beginning of the season.

Read More – Andy Murray Suffers Another Setback in the 2020 Season