The 2024 season for Matteo Berrettini has been one of the most controversial of his career. The 28-year-old Roman is among the most in-form Italian tennis players at the moment, despite not participating in the Paris 2024 Olympics. With two titles won and ten consecutive matches without a loss, he has climbed back into the ATP top 40. His goal is to return to the top 10 and aim for the No. 6 position he achieved on January 31, 2022.
Berrettini's recent performance on clay courts has been exceptional. Winning titles at the 250-level tournaments in Gstaad and Kitzbuhel highlights his remarkable form. These finals, dominated against Quentin Halys and Hugo Gaston respectively, showcase his competitiveness across all surfaces.
This success follows a challenging experience at Wimbledon 2024, where Berrettini was eliminated by fellow Italian Jannik Sinner. In a high-intensity match, Berrettini lost 3-1, with sets of 7-6, 7-6, 2-6, 7-6. Despite the defeat, Berrettini's performance was impressive, with Sinner needing to be at his best to secure the win.
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In the first round, Berrettini overcame the tricky Marton Fucsovics in four sets (7-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1), setting the stage for his showdown with Sinner. The nearly four-hour battle that followed was a testament to Berrettini's resilience and skill, even if it did not yield the desired outcome.
Leading up to Wimbledon, Berrettini's preparation seemed less than ideal due to a series of injuries. However, his runner-up finish in Stuttgart, where he lost to Jack Draper in three sets, hinted at his potential. En route to the final, he defeated Musetti, Duckworth, Shapovalov, and Safiullin.
At Halle, Berrettini was eliminated in the second round by American Marcos Giron, with a score of 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, following a comfortable win over another American, Alex Michelsen (7-6, 6-2). Despite his early exit at Wimbledon, Berrettini's overall performance demonstrated his capability to compete at high levels.
Now, with two ATP titles under his belt, Berrettini is confident in his ability to return to the highest echelons of the sport and compete on equal footing with the best players.
