Matteo Berrettini shuts down season to reset and rebuild for 2024

Matteo Berrettini will not return to play another tournament in 2023.

On Friday, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist announced he was shutting down a season marred by various injuries.

“Despite training at a high level for a few weeks, my medical team has advised it would be a risk to compete in the final tournaments of the ATP season. It has been very difficult to accept this but I need to do what is best for next season and my long term career,” Berrettini wrote on Instagram.

“I will take this opportunity to reset, rebuild and start the year fully fit and healthy.”

The 27-year-old shared he would make himself available in a supporting, non-playing role to Italy’s Davis Cup captain when his nation competes in the final eight knockout stage of November's Davis Cup Finals. His 2023 campaign began with three wins at the United Cup, but the encouraging start to the year was short-lived.

Berrettini would drop his final two matches in the mixed-gender team competition, then was ousted by Andy Murray in the first round of the Australian Open after holding match point.

The former world No. 6 has been plagued by starts and stops throughout his career and 2023 was more than unkind with the injury bug. In February, a right leg issue saw him retire down a set in his Acapulco quarterfinal with Holger Rune.

Over the past two seasons, he made just one appearance during the European clay-court swing, missing Roland Garros on both occasions. An abdominal problem was responsible for limiting the Italian to a pair of matches in Monte Carlo this year.

Berrettini later ruptured a right ankle ligament at the US Open, forcing him to stop in the second set of his second-round match with Arthur Rinderknech.

“It has been an extremely tough year but I’m looking forward to a full and successful season in 2024,” closed Berrettini.

With his ranking down to No. 90, Berrettini finishes the season at 12-11. His most notable performance was a fourth-round showing at Wimbledon that included victories over seeds Alex de Minaur and Alexander Zverev. Eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz ended his run in a four-set encounter.