Former ATP World No. 4 Adriano Panatta has slammed those linking Matteo Berrettini's current injury crisis to his relationship with girlfriend Melissa Satta.
Berretini has found love again after splitting for good with his ex-girlfriend and WTA star Ajla Tomljanovic in February 2022. But he has been dealing with outside noise more than taking comfort in his new relationship with the American-born Italian showgirl Melissa Satta.
Satta is a television presenter and a model and was previously married to former AC Milan footballer Kevin-Prince Boateng. According to reports, she has been dating Berrettini since January 2023, but their low-key love affair has not been short of detractors.
Berrettini, who has endured a turbulent season on the ATP Tour, has been criticized by several tennis fans for his poor performances, which are attributed to his involvement with Satta. He has played just 26 matches this season and has seen his ranking tumble to as low as 92nd.
But Adriano Panatta, the last Italian man to win a Grand Slam in singles, has fired back at his countryman's critics. Panatta asserts that Berrettini's troubles are due to his persistent injury problems and believes they live "peaceful" lives.
"The controversy over the relationship between Matteo Berrettini and Melissa Satta? For me Matteo does nothing in particular, what wrong is it to have met a beautiful and famous girl? I don't think there is anything wrong at all."
"Why should we think that a beautiful famous girl can do harm? And then above all let's say that women have never hurt anyone, ever! I believe that he should live his life, I don't have to give him any advice, I know that they are very good together and live their story peacefully."
"It's normal that the spotlight is on them but Matteo is prone to injuries because of his game and not because of his relationship with Satta."
The big-hitting Italian last played at the 2023 US Open, where he retired in the second round after suffering an ankle ligament injury. But that didn't prevent him from cheering his country at the Davis Cup in Malaga as a non-playing attendee.
Berettini and Satta have opened up about the social media hate they have received since they started dating. The 27-year-old tennis star is preparing for the 2024 season, which begins in under a month and is reportedly working with Thomas Enqvist.
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