Several tennis legends have retired recently, leaving behind legacies that won’t soon be forgotten.
In 2024, three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray retired from tennis, bringing his 19-year career to a close.
Later in the year, he was joined in retirement by Rafael Nadal, who hung up his racket upon the conclusion of the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.
Both players had enjoyed success well into their 30s, and likely won’t have left the game with too many regrets.
The same perhaps can’t be said for Dominic Thiem, who retired in 2024 at the age of 31, having never recovered from a wrist injury he sustained shortly after winning his sole Grand Slam title at the 2020 US Open.
It’s always devastating to see players retire young due to injury, but unfortunately, it is not all that uncommon in tennis, as another ATP Tour star could be heading for the same fate.
Paolo Bertolucci believes Matteo Berrettini is under ‘threat’ of early retirement
Writing for La Gazzetta dello Sport, Italian Davis Cup winner Paolo Bertolucci shared his thoughts on Matteo Berrettini’s recent injury struggles.
“It’s true that his career suffered several setbacks due to repeated physical setbacks, but the second half of last season seemed to have delivered a player finally healthy and confident,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the reality turned out to be quite different from what was hoped. And after having essentially missed the entire final months of 2025, the feeling is that the boy is suffering from problems that go beyond the physical.”
Bertolucci is concerned that Berrettini could be headed for an early retirement should his injury issues persist.
“Dark shadows, at this point, are gathering over Matteo’s future, who, evidently, on the cusp of turning thirty, is struggling to extricate himself from both physical and mental obstacles,” he said.
“For now, however, no statement has been released from him. All is quiet.
“But the threat of having to end his career early could be looming.”
After missing the French Open due to injury, Berrettini returned to action at Wimbledon, his most successful Grand Slam tournament.
His stay in London was short-lived, however, as the Italian lost to Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak in the first round.
Still suffering from injuries, Berrettini was forced to withdraw from the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open tournaments, leaving him little time to prepare for the US Open in August.
If Berrettini fails to compete at the US Open, he will have missed seven Grand Slams since reaching four consecutive major quarterfinals between the 2021 French Open and the 2022 Australian Open.
Matteo Berrettini’s Grand Slam streak
- 2021 French Open – Lost in QF to Novak Djokovic
- 2021 Wimbledon – Lost in F to Novak Djokovic
- 2021 US Open – Lost in QF to Novak Djokovic
- 2022 Australian Open – Lost in SF to Rafael Nadal
Matteo Berrettini’s Grand Slam withdrawals
- 2022 French Open
- 2022 Wimbledon
- 2023 French Open
- 2024 Australian Open
- 2024 French Open
- 2025 French Open
Fans of the Italian will certainly hope to see Berrettini make a full recovery and rediscover the form that saw him reach a Grand Slam final just four years ago.
Matteo Berrettini’s sensational run to the 2021 Wimbledon final
Competing as the number seven seed at Wimbledon in 2021, Berrettini made a strong start at the All England Club, dropping just one set en route to the quarterfinals.
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| 1R | Guido Pella | 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 |
| 2R | Botic van de Zandschulp | 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 |
| 3R | Aljaz Bedene | 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 4R | Ilya Ivashka | 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 |
He then took down Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in a four-set quarterfinal to set up a semifinal showdown with fellow big-server Hubert Hurkacz.
Overpowering the Pole in four sets, Berrettini advanced to his first major final, where he came face-to-face with the legendary Serb, Novak Djokovic.
Looking to produce a big upset on Centre Court, ‘the hammer’ clinched the first set in a tiebreaker, edging into the lead.
Unfortunately for Berrettini, he was unable to hold on to the advantage, as Djokovic fought back to win 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
The 30-year-old hasn’t returned to a Grand Slam final since, but would no doubt love the opportunity to compete at the US Open later this year, should his injury heal in time.
This year’s US Open is scheduled to begin on Sunday, August 24.
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