Italian tennis star Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up, marked his triumphant return to the main ATP tour on Tuesday after a grueling seven-month absence due to injuries.
The former world number six, who has dropped to 135th in the rankings during his hiatus, dominated Kazakh player Alexander Shevchenko on the clay courts of Morocco. Berrettini secured a convincing 6-2, 6-1 victory to advance to the second round of the tournament.
“It’s been a long time away from competition,” Berrettini said in his post-match interview. “Seven months is no joke. I truly missed being out there, and that’s what’s fueling all this energy on the court.”
The 27-year-old’s comeback journey hasn’t been without setbacks. Last August, he was forced to withdraw from the US Open after sustaining a ruptured ligament in his right ankle. Then, on the eve of his Australian Open return this year, a foot injury sidelined him once again.
While Berrettini reached the final of a Challenger event in Phoenix last month, his return to the prestigious Masters 1000 circuit proved challenging. He fell short in the first round of the Miami Open to veteran player Andy Murray.
Berrettini, a former US Open and Australian Open semi-finalist, has battled various injuries over the past few years. Hand surgery in 2022 and abdominal issues in 2023 further hampered his progress. This dominant win in Morocco, however, marks a promising return for the Italian star, and tennis fans eagerly await his next challenge against Spaniard Jaume Munar in the second round.
