Matteo Berrettini won't be able to defend his title at the 2023 Cinch Championships at the Queen's Club as an injury forced him to pull out of the ATP 500 tournament.
The Italian has announced his withdrawal from this year's tournament on Sunday, leaving a noticeable void in the lineup and ending his hopes of defending his title. Berrettini's withdrawal is the latest chapter in his ongoing battle with injuries that have seen him struggle through the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
The Italian tennis star's journey through the 2022 season was marked by a series of unfortunate injuries. The transition from hard-courts to clay-courts, a time demanding intensified training, was particularly challenging for Berrettini.
A recurring abdominal issue had already forced him to retire from a tournament in Mexico and hindered his performance in Indian Wells. However, the final straw came just before the start of the Miami Open, when Berrettini experienced severe pain in his right hand. The injury was serious enough to necessitate a minor surgical procedure.
Berrettini's injury woes followed him into the 2023 season, with a stomach muscle tear and an oblique muscle injury causing him to withdraw from several clay court tournaments. His participation in the Monte-Carlo Masters ended prematurely due to the oblique muscle injury, and a subsequent scan after hopes of recovering in time for the Italian Open, revealed he needed more recovery time, leading to his withdrawal from his home tournament as well.
Given Berrettini's impressive track record on grass courts, the decision to withdraw from the 2023 Roland Garros to focus on his recovery was a difficult but calculated choice. With a 9-match winning streak on grass courts, Berrettini and his team decided to delay his return to competitive play until the grass season, believing the shift from intense training to five-set matches on clay might risk his physical health and match fitness.
However, his comeback at the 2023 Stuttgart Open was far from ideal, and after the match, the Italian left the court in tears. Little did he know that only a few days later, another setback will halt his grass-court progress.
The Queen's Club withdrawal marks another twist in Berrettini's injury-plagued journey. The Italian had clear intention to defend his points in the grass-court events where he has been historically successful. But he still remains positive despite the withdrawal.
"I’m really sad to have to withdraw from the tournament, and not get the chance to defend my title. I wish the tournament and everyone involved a successful week. I look forward to coming back next year."
0 Comments