Matteo Berrettini spent much of 2023 dealing with multiple injuries that prevented him from playing regularly, and it's not getting better, it seems.
Matteo Berrettini's career wasn't supposed to go the way it did in recent years. After making the Wimbledon final a few years ago, many expected Berrettini to keep improving and solidifying himself as one of the better players in the world, but he can't catch a break with injuries.
2023 was a disaster as he dealt with several injuries that prevented him from playing regularly. The most recent injury was an ankle injury that happened at the US Open, where he rolled his ankle badly and had to leave the court in a wheelchair.
Since then, it's been mostly rehabbing to return to competition in Australia; however, that seems to be in question per recent reports. According to La Republicca, Berrettini experienced foot pain during practices with his good friend Lorenzo Sonego in Turin.
The big-serving Italian planned to finish up preparations in Turin before flying out to Australia, but that's now in doubt. We don't really know what kind of problem Berretini has, but any time you have pain when you shouldn't is not good news.
He might push back his return to the major to give himself time to understand the issue better, but for now, we only have these reports.
Berrettini hasn't spoken about it, and ultimately, we'll know in the coming weeks, especially if he doesn't make the journey Down Under. Another injury or physical issue would be heartbreaking for the Italian, who hasn't had great luck with his health for over a year now.
It's a shame because he's truly one of the better players in the world when fully healthy. Hopefully, this isn't something serious, especially not related to his ankle which he rehabbed since September.