Matteo Berrettini finds joy again after refusing to let go

VIENNA—There’s an exuberant energy around Matteo Berrettini on the court right now—and the former Wimbledon finalist the first to share it’s a feeling that didn’t come easy to regain.

The Italian’s tennis year didn’t begin until mid-March at an ATP Challenger event in Phoenix, and after a promising return that included a title run in Marrakech, an illness sent him back to square one for two months. Berrettini fought through the emotional rollercoaster of hard luck to unlock a state of bliss again, an achievement he’s incredibly satisfied with as the 2024 season approaches its final stages.

“I found the energy again. I found the joy of doing what like to do, what I'm doing right now. That's the most important thing, finding the joy about what you're doing,” he tells TENNIS.com.

“Obviously, I'm happy about my level. I’m happy about the wins. But not letting go when everything was basically telling me, ‘OK, let it go.’ It’s the thing that I'm most proud of.”

When it comes to injuries, Berrettini can relate to one of his generation’s most beloved champions. On Sunday evening, the 28-year-old was on hand to celebrate the retiring Dominic Thiem when the Erste Bank Open hosted a farewell celebration for their local hero.

Berrettini holds a high regard for Thiem making the decision to turn the page at 31 after a right wrist injury and lack of inspiration plagued his career trajectory.

“Obviously tennis, it's not just hitting a tennis ball. There are so many things that you have to take care of. We all know that he was struggling with his wrist, and he was a physical player,” says Berrettini. “So once you lose a little bit of confidence in your body, then it's tough to get going. (Plus) your motivation, the stuff that you're doing and everything that is happening around your life.

“I respect a lot about his decision because he felt like he's not in the place that he wanted to be. He steps away with my respect, and I think, the respect from the rest of the players.”

I found the energy again. I found the joy of doing what like to do, what I'm doing right now. Matteo Berrettini

Currently ranked just outside the Top 40, after falling outside the Top 150 on March 4, Berrettini opened his Vienna campaign Monday with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Marton Fucsovics. The Rome native has raised his career trophy haul to 10 with a trio of clay-court triumphs this year.

Would the 18-year-old version of himself be surprised to learn that given his strengths as a competitor, not one of those titles would involve a hard court?

“I would say I'm more surprised about my results on grass because I grew up having more time on clay,” says Berrettini, who owns four titles to go with a 42-11 tour-level record on grass.

“I think 18-year-old me would be really proud of the journey that we've been through. I got my first ATP point at 19, my first ATP win at 22. I was kind of late but my journey was really nice. A lot of good things happened along the way.”

Berrettini is making his third Vienna appearance, having reached the semifinals on his debut five years ago. The man who stopped him that year? One Dominic Thiem.