Defending Champion Matteo Berrettini Withdraws From 2025 Kitzbuhel Open

Matteo Berrettini will not defend a title he won last year for the second time in as many weeks after withdrawing from the 2025 Kitzbuhel Open.

The 2021 Wimbledon runner-up has been one of the most injury-hit players of the last few years. Repeated physical issues have stopped him from building on being one match away from winning the title at SW19 four years ago.

In March 2024, Berrettini returned from six months out with a foot injury he sustained at the 2023 US Open. He then enjoyed strong clay-court results under the guidance of Rafael Nadal's former team member Francisco Roig.

The Italian won the 2024 Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech, the 2024 Swiss Open in Gstaad, and the 2024 Kitzbuhel Open, all on clay. Those titles meant many were surprised when Berrettini and Roig split in October.

Berrettini's latest injury occurred on home soil in May at the 2025 Italian Open in Rome. He retired in the second set of his round-of-32 match against Casper Ruud with a right oblique injury, a problem that also caused him to withdraw from the 2025 French Open.

After missing all grass-court tournaments before the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, Berrettini returned at the season's third Grand Slam, but did not look completely comfortable during a defeat in the fifth set to Kamil Majchrzak.

Last year's champion withdrew from the ongoing 2025 Swiss Open in Gstaad. Although Berrettini did not publicly discuss it, the tournament confirmed he could not play because of an injury.

Although it is impossible to know the details of the injury without confirmation from Berrettini or someone on his team, the most likely explanation is that the right oblique problem continues to cause him problems.

Berrettini's previous success at Wimbledon and on grass meant he might have rushed his return from the injury. The 29-year-old's below-par performance and unconvincing movement against Majchrzak suggested that.

Marin Cilic is another former Grand Slam finalist who withdrew from the Kitzbuhel Open. The 2014 US Open champion has also not played since Wimbledon, where he had a good run to the fourth round, losing to Flavio Cobolli at that stage.

Like Berrettini, Cilic pulled out of last week's Swiss Open. That was not unexpected after the 36-year-old's run at Wimbledon. The Croatian has had a severe knee problem, and his caution about not overexerting himself is understandable.

Cilic's withdrawal from a second consecutive tournament might indicate an injury, or he could have decided to skip playing on clay after Wimbledon and move straight onto hard courts to prepare for the North American swing.

Alexander Zverev was the other high-profile withdrawal from the Swiss Open. The tournament said this was due to personal reasons. After exiting Wimbledon in the opening round, the German admitted to struggling and has considered seeing a therapist.

A few days after that withdrawal, rumors emerged about a stunning collaboration with Rafael Nadal and his uncle and former coach Toni Nadal. This speculation began after Zverev was pictured working with Toni at the Rafael Nadal Academy.