Matteo Berrettini started his 2024 Shanghai Masters campaign with a win, and it was a much-needed win after some struggles lately and the way his career has unfolded in recent years.
A few years ago, Berrettini was having the time of his life. He was one of the best players in the world, making the final at Wimbledon. Fast forward to now, the Italian is still a good player but quite a bit removed from his best tennis days.
Injuries are mostly to blame, as he has dealt with many of them in the past few years. Last year, in particular, was pretty rough for Berrettini, who missed a lot of time. It's well-known that he's one of the players that really love the sport, and without tennis, his life just lacks that competition he enjoys so much.
It was not a surprise that he described last year, when he missed a lot of time, as one of the toughest years he's ever endured. Just the inability to do what he loves, even if it's technically a job, was very hard for him.
"Yeah, it's been, I mean, last year was really, really tough, one of the worst years of my career and my life as well because obviously that's what we do. When you're not able to do your job and what you like to do, then it's always a struggle."
Getting back to playing tennis regularly was like a dream come true for Berrettini because, at times, it seemed like it wouldn't happen. It's really hard to fight the doubt that comes with injury struggles, but Berrettini was able to return this year and remember that good feeling of winning a tennis match.
He won three trophies this year, in Marrakech, Gstaad, and Kitzbuhel, and played another final in Stuttgart, so it's been a good return which he's appreciated every moment of.
"So I'm really so I'm really and to perform and give my best. I know it's a process. I know, you know, like I did a great job this year to build up again my ranking, and I'm feeling good, so hopefully a great end of the season as well."
Even though he has generally been playing on a level that was good enough to win titles, Berrettini did struggle a bit lately. His form hasn't been as sharp, and he needed to reset after having to retire from his match at the Japan Open in Tokyo recently.
He admitted that he didn't talk to anybody after that match, as he had to retire despite winning the opening set of his second-round match against Arthur Fils, but with the help of his team and family, he was able to find the energy again, and started with a win over Christopher O'Connell at the 2024 Shanghai Masters.
"One thing that I've been doing so far is being really resilient, you know, with the help of a lot of people. My team is close to me, in the bad moments in the good moments."
"There were a couple of days after Tokyo that I didn't talk to anybody. I wasn't really having a lot of fun. Thanks to them and my family back home and everybody that is helping, I found the energy again, and I'm here."
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