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ATP Stuttgart: Matteo Berrettini breaks down in tears after defeat

By TieBreakNewsPosted on
Time to Read:-words

2023 continues not to be a lucky year for Matteo Berrettini. In the ATP 250 in Stuttgart, a tournament he won twice, the Italian tennis player returned to the court exactly two months after his last appearance, in Monte Carlo, from which he withdrew due to an abdominal problem, before facing Holger Runes.

His debut here on the grass, a surface on which he has always excelled, hasn’t changed the fate of a cursed season so far. His friend Lorenzo Sonego clearly beat him with the result of 6-1 6-2, highlighting a physical condition of the former number one very far from the best times.

The exultation of the Turinese was very contained, who immediately noticed Matteo’s emotional state, visibly dejected. In fact, the former Wimbledon finalist sadly left the court in tears, sending a not comforting message to his fans in view of the upcoming close engagements.

Matteo Berrettini breaks down in tears after defeat

In recent years, Matteo has been by all accounts one of the strongest tennis players on this surface, as evidenced by the results, but to confirm himself in Queens and in the English slam, a completely different Berrettini will be needed.

Should he not defend the 500 title in London, Matteo, who currently holds the virtual position number 33 net of the points lost in Germany, could drop out of the top 50 in the world for the first time.

Sonego said after the win: “It’s tough. I’m not happy because he’s my best friend on the Tour. It’s hard to see him like this. I wish him well in the next tournament. I played my best tennis today. I didn’t have high expectations, as it was my first grass tournament this year. I played really well and I’m happy about it. I was very focused on my tennis and my serve. I tried not to think about the fact that there was a friend on the other side of the net.”