Disgusted Matteo Berrettini slams commentator's reaction to Holger Rune's injury
NewsThursday, 23 October 2025 at 11:10
Matteo Berrettini has passionately responded to a commentator who suggested that Holger Rune's horrific injury setback might benefit him.
Rune was trying to keep his faint hopes of qualifying for the 2025 ATP Finals alive when he faced Ugo Humbert in the 2025 Stockholm Open semifinals. The Dane took the opening set, and the score stood at 2-2 in the second.
Suddenly, Rune pulled up during a rally and began limping. After consulting with a physiotherapist, he began crying, retired from the match, and needed two others to help him get off the court while being applauded by the Swedish fans.
The 2022 Paris Masters champion subsequently revealed the injury was severe, and he underwent Achilles tendon repair surgery. Depending on how swiftly he recovers, Rune could be out for more than 12 months.
Some of Rune's colleagues on the ATP Tour responded by saying the calendar needs to be changed. Taylor Fritz spoke particularly powerfully, saying players will not achieve longevity unless something is done.
Eurosport commentator Jacopo Lo Monaco reacted very differently on the Schiafflo al volo podcast. He argued that Rune's devastating setback in Stockholm could be positive for him in the long term.
"Considering Rune's seasons, it's now three, since the success in Bercy in 2022, where he beat everyone, including Djokovic in the final. Almost three full years. He was now in a situation of limbo because instead of growing, he was initially more stationary, and this was a negative season."
"He's dropped in the world rankings compared to last year, and even more compared to two years ago. So, he's taking it the right way; maybe it's the best thing that could have happened to him. You actually see it as a moment of reflection."
"Because when you're young, you think your career is endless, 'I have so many years ahead of me.' An injury like this makes you realize that even your body is fallible and that it's better to take 100% care of it – then I'd like to understand why top-level athletes in their twenties still lose Achilles tendons."
Berrettini could not hide his anger in his social media response to lo Monaco's comments. The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up reminded fans that such a severe injury can alter a player's career, and said the commentator's opinion was close to madness.
"Guys, I understand everything, but this stuff is truly horrifying... To think that an injury of this magnitude could be the best thing that could happen to a 22-year-old player, the 11th in the world, means either being in bad faith or understanding very little about this sport and sport in general."
"Maturation, whether competitive or not, comes with time, with defeats, with victories, with matches lost on match points or even won while playing poorly. This is an injury that can radically change a person's life, let alone a career at this level. I always listen and almost never comment, but this is bordering on madness."
"I understand wanting to speak up, to have your say, always, in any case, but hearing someone say 'the tendon popped' without a shred of compassion or sensitivity, as if we were talking about a balloon to pop on a ride, gives me the shivers."
Berrettini has sustained many injury issues, meaning he can relate to Rune better than most. The 29-year-old thinks Italian culture has a problem with how it reacts to such situations.
"Behind that injury, there was suffering, both mental and physical, doubts, and moments so dark that they could compromise the mental health of a very young boy. Maybe I can relate to it, maybe I know what it means to see certain things slip away without even having the chance to try to stop them, maybe I know how hard it is to come back from an injury, but I'm sure that if you think about it carefully, you too will have realized that this thing went badly."
"I could be wrong, but I believe that the necessary change in Italian sports culture also comes from here, from how things are reported and how certain topics are analyzed. Putting a player's potential results ahead of his health, I don't think is the right way to look at and comment on sport."
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