After a frustrating streak of five withdrawals from the ATP 250 tournament in Gstaad and the US Open, Matteo Berrettini made his much-anticipated return to the court. It had been a grueling two-and-a-half months since his last competitive matches in Hangzhou and Tokyo. Naturally, the Italian sensation faced challenges upon re-entering the fray, suffering a straight-sets defeat to the qualifier Dalibor Svrcina in his first outing back. However, the narrative took a positive turn in Tokyo, where Berrettini demonstrated substantial improvement by advancing to the Round of 16 at the Japan Open.
In a compelling display, Berrettini triumphed over Jaume Munar with a convincing score of 6-4, 6-2. Munar had recently reached the Round of 16 at the US Open, but Berrettini’s confidence surged as he faced the formidable Casper Ruud in the next match. The first set of their encounter hinged on a tiebreak, which ultimately set the tone for the match. After narrowly losing that set, Berrettini struggled to regain momentum, allowing the Norwegian to seize control and dominate the second set.
As the season reaches its climax, Berrettini knows that the upcoming matches are crucial for his trajectory. He is gearing up for the Masters 1000 event in Shanghai, scheduled from October 1 to 12, and he is determined to elevate his performance to new heights.
In his own words, Berrettini is taking a methodical approach to his recovery, emphasizing the importance of patience and progress. “It was great to be back on the court. Congratulations to Ruud. I’m moving forward one step at a time,” he shared in an Instagram post that resonated deeply with his fans and supporters.
With the spirit of resilience guiding him, Berrettini is poised to embrace the challenges ahead, ready to make every match count as he seeks to finish the season strong.