Matteo Berrettini withdraws from ATP Finals on home soil with emotional injury statement

ATP Finals: Roger Federer defeats Matteo Berrettini

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Matteo Berrettini has been forced to pull out of the Nitto ATP Finals in his home country. The world No 7 is playing his third season-ending championships but it is the first time the event has been held in Italy. Berrettini was forced to retire from his opening round-robin match against Alexander Zverev on Sunday (November 14) after picking up an ab injury.

Berrettini has had the best season of his career, winning his biggest title at the ATP 500 in Queens, making his first Masters 1000 final in Madrid, and playing his maiden Grand Slam final at Wimbledon, managing to take the first set off Novak Djokovic before losing in four.

He also reached a career-high ranking of world No 7 off the back of his exploits this year, and qualified for the ATP Finals for the third time in his career.

The year-end tournament is being held in Turin for the first time this year, after more than a decade at London’s O2 Arena, with Berrettini the only Italian man to qualify.

He received a loud reception from the crowd when taking to the court for his first round-robin match in the Red Group on Sunday (November 14) to face Zverev, his conqueror in the Madrid final.

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The pair played a lengthy opening set, both looking impressive as the German narrowly stole it 9-7 in the tiebreak.

At the beginning of the second set, Berrettini appeared to injure his abdomen as he could be seen stretching after one point, and during the second game was forced to drop his racquet and retreat to his bench in pain, receiving a medical timeout while serving at 0-1 40-40.

The Italian got back up to continue playing but after just one more point, which went Zverev’s way, he was forced to retire in front of the supportive Pala Alpitour crowd, who backed their man until the end.

The 25-year-old later admitted the “unbelievable” crowd made it even more difficult to retire, and admitted it was “killing him” to not finish the match, adding: “The worst thing that could have happened, happened.”

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Many were expecting Berrettini’s imminent withdrawal from the tournament following his retirement, but he later spoke out and said he would make a decision after having scans, and continued to practice ahead of his second match on Tuesday (November 16).

He was originally set to play Hubert Hurkacz in the daytime session at 2pm local time, with both losers of the Red Group opening matches facing one another, but organisers pushed their match back to 9pm to give the world No 7 more time to rest in attempt to recover in time.

Shortly after the conclusion of the rescheduled day session match between Medvedev and Zverev – the winners of the first two Red Group matches – Berrettini took to Instagram to share a heartfelt post, announcing his withdrawal from the year-end finals.

“Hi guys, I’ve been thinking, thinking, crying and finally decided… My finals end here,” he wrote on Tuesday (November 16).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matteo Berrettini (@matberrettini)

“I’m devastated, never thought I’d have to give up the most important tennis event ever held in Italy like this. The truth is that as much as I wanted to play in front of you one more time, I felt and therefore decided that my body is not ready to face the challenges I face.”

The Italian admitted he felt “robbed” after being forced to withdraw from the prestigious season-ending event in its first year in Turin.

He continued: “Saying I’m sad wouldn’t do justice to the mood I’m in, I feel robbed of something I’ve conquered with years of effort and sweat.

“It wasn’t an easy decision, but I’m convinced it’s the best for me and my career. Thank you for your continued support and the thousands of messages you sent me, you made me emotional.”

Luckily for the Italian crowd, the first alternate is Berrettini’s compatriot, 20-year-old Jannik Sinner.

The world No 11 will step in and face Hurkacz in the evening session, before taking on Daniil Medvedev on Friday (November 19).

Medvedev himself has now qualified for the semi-finals off the back of the 25-year-old’s withdrawal.
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