"I'm in relationship like everybody else" - Berrettini dismisses poor form criticism

"I'm in relationship like everybody else" - Berrettini dismisses poor form criticism

by Kadir Macar

Last updated

Matteo Berrettini clapped back at suggestions that his romantic relationship is at fault for his poor form this year.

Berrettini hasn't played that well this year posting only a 5-5 record this year which is unfortunate for him but he's also not thrilled with some of the media speculation around it. Like many tennis players, Berrettini goes up and down in form yet the media constructed his most recent slump as a direct consequence of a new romance.

The Italian split from longtime girlfriend Ajla Tomljanovic last year and is now dating Italian presenter Melissa Satta. In a talk with La Repubblica, Berrettini dismissed the suggestion that his new romance is a distraction as he finds it just a normal part of life.

"I'm having a romantic relationship like all the other kids my age. Normal, and here too I'm sorry that such a positive thing, which is a feeling after all, is turned around as a professional distraction. Beyond the haters, I'm sorry for those who know about tennis: they are not constructive criticisms and I don't understand the reasons."

Berrettini on romance

He understands why it happens as he's a public person with a lot of eyeballs on him. His every move, both on the court and off the court will be analysed but he's not worried. He's fully committed to his career and he believes in what he's doing.

"The more exposed you become – not even famous – and you become the target of attacks, especially if things don't go as you would like, or as people would like. Personally I have no doubts about what I'm doing. I don't feel I've taken a different path from tennis. I'm the same guy as always."

He will be in action at the Phoenix Challenger this week to try and get some matches under his belt and improve his level.

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