Matteo Berrettini is not having a good time on the court, and that appears to have been transmitted off the court, too, having confirmed the end of another love affair.
Speculation intensified in recent days that Berrettini and American-born Italian showgirl Melissa Satta were no longer dating because there wasn't any acknowledgment from Berrettini's part on social media to commemorate her girlfriend's birthday on February 7th.
Additionally, Berrettini and Satta did not exchange any love messages on Valentine's Day just a week later. Considering their active social life, it was a surprise. The 27-year-old ATP star has since gone on record to confirm the split in an interview on Corriere dello Sport.
"I figured the question would come. Melissa and I are no longer together. We have a beautiful relationship, we have great respect for each other, I won't go beyond this because I don't like talking about my private life, I thank you for this beautiful year."
Berrettini and Satta have been in the relationship for over a year and have been spotted together on dinner dates in multiple Italian restaurants since they went public with their affair in January 2023.
Before then, the former World No. 6 was dating WTA player Ajla Tomljanovic until they decided to go their separate ways in February 2022. Berrettini's relationship with Satta earned a few critics.
A section of tennis fans blamed Satta's involvement as the likely cause of Berrettini's struggles on the court. But former Italian tennis great Adriano Panatta slammed those claims and supported his countryman in the wake of criticism.
Berrettini has been battling a series of injuries for a year. He hasn't played any tournament in 2024 so far, withdrawing from this year's Australian Open in spite of traveling to Melbourne together with her now former girlfriend, Melissa Satta.
The former Wimbledon finalist intends to play at the Challenger 175 tournament in Phoenix, which tends to attract quite a huge number of Top 100 players. It will run from March 12th to 17th.