Matteo Berrettini withdraws from ATP Finals, countryman Jannik Sinner moves into Turin field

HIGHLIGHTS: Zverev leads Berrettini before Italian stops with injury

Top-ranked Italian Matteo Berrettini had hopes of recovering from a left oblique injury that flared up during his opening ATP Finals match with Alexander Zverev and forced him to retire a game into their second set.

On Tuesday however, the Wimbledon finalist withdrew from the season finale in Turin. In a translated Instagram post, Berrettini stated he felt “robbed” of the opportunity he worked to attain, but that is body simply is “not ready to face the challenges that lie ahead.”

Italy will still be represented among the ATP’s elite eight, as the first alternate is Jannik Sinner. The 20-year-old will take Berrettini’s Red Group position and face Hubert Hurkacz in the evening session. Victories over the Pole and reigning champion Daniil Medvedev would enable Sinner to qualify for the semifinals.

World No. 7 Berrettini notched 41 victories and two titles this season. The oblique issue is the latest in a string of setbacks the 25-year-old has withstood the past two years. Berrettini endured a hernia/groin issue at the start of 2020, abdominal strain that forced him to pull out ahead of his round-of-16 match at February’s Australian Open and most recently, was sidelined during the Paris Masters with neck stiffness.