Berrettini, something is moving but time is running out: the next few days will be decisive for the Roman tennis player.
Without him, teammates say, it would not have been the same. His presence on the bench, at least judging by the enthusiastic statements of the golden quintet that brought home the mythical Davis Cup, was invaluable. Even indispensable. So much so that it made a difference, even.
That Matteo Berrettini was a formidable team man we already knew. He had made a fundamental contribution, in terms of motivation and support, even during the group stage, but at the Finals he outdid himself. So much so that the team’s draftee, namely Jannik Sinner, saw fit to tag him in the official photos taken during the awards ceremony. The Roman was not able to pose with the rest of the team because protocol did not allow it, but that does not detract from the fact that the Davis’ fantastic 5 think it is also a bit to his credit that Italy can once again enjoy the mythical salad bowl after 47 years of enforced fasting.
The trip to Malaga may have been decisive, then, for the Roman tennis player’s mood. Although he is not playing he may have regained, in fact, the will to compete and win, after all these months spent, willy-nilly, sitting in the pits waiting for the injury to run its course.
Berrettini, time is running out and meanwhile training with him
This is not enough, though. Berrettini lacked more than just the desire to return to play, which he may have found again right in Malaga. He lacks something equally important that does not depend solely on his will.
Matteo, so it seems, is struggling to put together a respectable new team that can bring him back to the top ten. He parted ways with his longtime coach a few weeks ago and has yet to find-or maybe he has, but he hasn’t made it official-an heir to match Vincenzo Santopadre. Thomas Enqvist’s name has been circulating in the environment with some insistence, but it is not known whether the two have reached an agreement and whether he is indeed the new coach of the 2021 Wimbledon finalist. It could, however, be a matter of days.
The only thing that is certain is that Berrettini, by necessity, has missed the winter break with flying colors. With all there is to do, he does not have a single minute to waste, so much so that the blue hammer is training, these days, with a grass tennis player he greatly admires, namely Samuel Vincent Ruggeri, class of 2002 and 363rd in the Atp ranking. Something is moving, then, waiting, perhaps, to be joined by the new coach who will have the burden and honor of bringing him back to his former glory.