Matteo Berrettini Withdraws From 2025 Munich Open After Monte-Carlo Injury
News
Matteo Berrettini will not continue his clay-court season next week after pulling out of the 2025 Munich Open.
Berrettini was in great form during his opening two matches of the 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters. He defeated Mariano Navone with a clinical performance, playing better than the Argentine in the significant moments.
That was followed by a dramatic victory against world No. 2 Alexander Zverev. Berrettini recovered from losing the opening set to triumph 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 after an engrossing encounter on Court Rainier III.
Hopes were high for Berrettini's round-of-16 encounter with his countryman, Lorenzo Musetti. Due to each man's clay court prowess, it had the makings of one of the best matches of the tournament.
Unfortunately, the contest never came close to meeting those expectations. Musetti's 6-3, 6-3 win was even more one-sided than the final score suggests. He did not face a break point throughout the match.
Berrettini was hampered by an injury throughout. The 2021 Wimbledon runner-up had strapping on his right foot and ankle before the match, an issue he may have picked up in the long encounter with Zverev.
Although Berrettini played through the pain, he had treatment for the problem during the match and looked in visible discomfort while having the issue tended to. Staying with the athletic Musetti in the rallies with that injury proved impossible.
Berrettini planned to compete at the Munich Open, which has been upgraded to ATP 500 status from 250-level, but elected to withdraw from the tournament on Friday, the day before the draw came out.
While the Italian did not confirm that his Monte-Carlo injury was the reason, it is reasonable to assume that Berrettini does not want to exacerbate the problem before the 2025 Madrid Open.
The injury setback is undoubtedly a source of significant frustration since Berrettini's clay court performances has been excellent since 2024. He won three titles on the dirt last year in Marrakech, Gstaad, and Kitzbuhel.
Berrettini worked with Francisco Roig during the 2024 clay season. Roig was a member of Rafael Nadal's coaching team from 2005 until 2022. His time with the greatest clay court player ever made him perfectly positioned to help Berrettini on the surface.
Those three titles meant there was widespread shock when Berrettini and Roig split after 10 months together in October. The parting seemed amicable, and the dynamic the pair appeared to be building made the decision surprising.
Berrettini's misfortune with injuries led to him missing the last three iterations of the French Open. Hopefully, his issue in Monte-Carlo does not lead to him missing the season's second Grand Slam again.
The 29-year-old has been replaced at the Munich Open by one of the men he defeated in Monte-Carlo. Mariano Navone will hope to take the opportunity given to him at an ATP 500 tournament by performing well next week.
Navone is a clay court specialist. His two ATP finals were on the dirt at the 2024 Rio Open and the 2024 Romanian Open. All his Challenger Tour finals also came on clay.
