Berrettini, cameras in action on court 12 at the All England Club documented an unexpected presence: yes, sometimes they come back…
Antonello Venditti knew how to say it in the most poetic way, writing a verse that has long been in the history of Italian music. Some loves don’t end, they make immense turns and then they come back, he sings with his unique timbre, making anyone dream that that love may sooner or later begin again.
And how true what the Roman singer-songwriter says is well known by Matteo Berrettini, who has closed quite a few parentheses by necessity over the past two years. First there was the breakup with tennis player Ajla Tomljanovic, then a few flirtations that died in the bud and, finally, the separation from Melissa Satta, at the culmination of a story quite tormented and suffered because of the controversy that did not give them a chance.
In between, another breakup, equally painful though inevitable. Nearly a year has passed since the 2021 Wimbledon finalist’s farewell to Vincenzo Santopadre, who has been his coach for time immemorial but from whom it was necessary, at some point, to move away. And vice versa. They both needed new stimulation and it was right that, at some point, they took the freedom to change and explore new horizons.
Berrettini, some loves die hard
Berrettini hired Francisco Roig to exploit his past alongside Rafael Nadal. Santopadre, for his part, has decided to forge a talent on the rise: he now coaches Luca Van Assche, who was turned away yesterday in the first round of Wimbledon by Italian Fabio Fognini.
The match between his transalpine protégé and the Italian ended while Matteo was playing on court number 12 against Márton Fucsovics, so he couldn’t resist. In the third set the cameras caught him in the stands, intent on enjoying the spectacle offered by the champion he has coached for years and years and escorted to the sixth spot in the world rankings. Because, indeed, some loves die hard, just as some bonds are unbreakable. Like theirs.
A bond so strong that Santopadre, in an interview with Il Giornale newspaper, had some beautiful words for his former client. “Matteo is coming back: of course he still needs to play – these are his words – to find the condition and continuity, the match rhythm in short. But you can see that he wants to regain the routine of the past. Last year, moreover, after that incredible series of injuries he managed to surprise by making it to the round of 16. He will be back where we think he needs to be, me for one.” A beautiful wish and, certainly, shared by many fans.