Matteo Berrettini takes Naples wild card amid reportedly subpar court conditions

The 2021 Wimbledon runner-up is looking to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, but play is yet to get underway at the Tennis Napoli Club following player complaints.

ByKamakshi Tandon

Published Oct 15, 2022

MATCH POINT: R. Carballes Baena def. M. Berrettini; 2R Florence

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WATCH: Berrettini's Turin hopes took a hit when he lost in Florence to Roberto Carballés Baena in three sets.

Players in the hunt to qualify for the ATP Finals are adjusting their schedules going into the final stretch of the season. Italy's Matteo Berrettini has taken a wild card into the ATP 250 in Naples, Italy, next week, while Andrey Rublev has withdrawn from the 250 amid complaints of subpar court conditions.

The race is reportedly on to restore the courts in time for main-draw action to begin on Monday.

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Wow.

A thread about how BAD the courts are in Napoli.

Players refused to play today and Qualies gonna be played somewhere in the city.

Heard they will try to fix and ‘repaint’ the courts till Monday, when the main draw starts.

What a mess. https://t.co/CC6a8VfUao
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 15, 2022

The Tennis Napoli Cup replied with a statement regarding the conditions:

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A statement from the Naples ATP 250 organizers regarding the courts. Qualifying matches were transferred to a different club and they're hoping they can start the main draw at Tennis Club Napoli on Monday once amendments have been made. pic.twitter.com/qapBJbM6zm
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) October 15, 2022

As for Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist is currently No.15 in the Race to qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy—trailing No. 7 Félix Auger-Aliassime and No. 8 Taylor Fritz by around 700 points.

"I'm excited to announced I will be playing the [Napoli Cup] next week," said the Italian on social media, who fell in the second round of the ATP 250 in Florence, Italy, this week.

Rublev, who is No. 6 in the Race, has withdrawn from the event, but both he and Berrettini are scheduled to play the ATP 500 in Vienna, Austria and the Rolex Paris Masters in the following two weeks. Fritz, who won the ATP 500 in Tokyo, has also withdrawn from next week's event in Stockholm and is scheduled to return at Vienna.

The top eight players in the standings qualify for the ATP Finals, but with 10th-placed Novak Djokovic guaranteed the Grand Slam wild card because of his victory at Wimbledon; those in the running must be at least seventh to secure their position in the field.

Vienna offers 500 points to the winner, while Paris will offer 1,000 points to the winner.

Rublev's withdrawal follows his deep run this week at the ATP 250 event in Gijon, where he is through to the semifinals, helping his position in the standings. Also having a good week is Auger-Aliassime, through to the Florence semifinals.

"There is still a lot of work to do to qualify for Turin," he said. "But with the way I am playing now I have more chances of qualifying."

There are five spots still left in the ATP Finals field.

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