Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
Matteo Berrettini has officially withdrawn from the French Open, prolonging his difficult stretch with injuries. The world No. 28 has not competed at Roland Garros since reaching the quarter-finals in 2021, facing intermittent physical setbacks since then. Berrettini also retired from his most recent two tournaments, the Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, raising concerns about his fitness and future participation in major tennis events.
Berrettini Withdraws Before French Open Draw
The declaration of Berrettini’s withdrawal came merely three hours before the main draw ceremony in Paris on Thursday. A lucky loser will take the Italian player’s place in the tournament.
Withdrawal Follows Retirement at Italian Open
This announcement follows Berrettini’s premature exit from his home tournament, the Italian Open, earlier this month. He conceded the match against sixth-seeded Casper Ruud while trailing 7-5, 2-0, acknowledging afterward that he nearly withdrew before stepping onto the court.
“Today, until ten minutes before the match, I didn’t think I could make it. Then I told myself, whatever happens, I’m going to try. I was surprised by how my body responded up to a certain point,” Berrettini stated after his third-round retirement.
“Then, I experienced another pull towards the conclusion of the first set, and afterward, I couldn’t remain in the match and maintain focus. I had to withdraw again.”
“I didn’t want to retire, but I know what happens if I don’t stop. I have to spend three months not playing, and every time I sneeze, I jump. I didn’t want that situation to recur.”
Prior Retirement at Madrid Open
Berrettini also retired during his match against Britain’s Jack Draper in the third round of the Madrid Open a few weeks prior. The 2021 Wimbledon finalist later revealed that he is struggling with an oblique injury, reminiscent of a problem that sidelined him from the tour previously.
“It is close to a point where I have been hurt before. I don’t know precisely what is wrong with my obliques, but the sensations are familiar and unwelcome,” he added.
Recurring Absences from Roland Garros
This marks the fourth consecutive year that Berrettini has been compelled to miss the French Open. He offered a competitive challenge to Novak Djokovic in a tense four-set quarter-final match in 2021 but has not participated since.
- In 2022, Berrettini was absent for the entire clay season after undergoing emergency surgery for a hand injury.
- An abdominal and oblique ailment kept him out of the tournament in 2023.
- Last year, he expressed that he was “not quite ready” to return to competition in Paris following an illness.
The last few years have been challenging for Berrettini, who achieved a career-high ranking of No. 6 three years prior and reached his sole Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2021, where he was defeated by Djokovic.
When healthy, Berrettini has demonstrated his ability to compete among the elite players. The current world No. 28 defeated Djokovic in the first round of the Qatar Open in February and later reached the Miami Open quarter-finals a month later.
Hoping for the Grass Court Season
Berrettini intends to recover in time for the grass court season, where he excels. He is defending 165 ranking points from reaching the Stuttgart final last year and has previously won two titles at London’s Queen’s Club. His fans hope he can swiftly overcome this injury and return to form, especially given his historical success on grass courts.