Berrettini leaves behind what was and begins a new adventure: honeyed words hint at how much he enjoys it.
The joy of being there. The awareness that he cannot give his best because of yet another, not at all expected, stop. He is at the mercy of very mixed feelings tennis player Matteo Berrettini, who has arrived in his native Rome to take part in the Internazionali d’Italia, even though he is not as fit as he would have liked.
The former number 1 of Italy had withdrawn from the Madrid Masters 1000 due to a bad tonsillitis and it seems that, unfortunately, the problem is still not completely resolved. Nevertheless, he still wanted to be there “because it’s Rome,” as the 2021 Wimbledon finalist has repeatedly stressed. He wanted to feel that energy, to breathe that atmosphere. He had not played at home since 2021, which is why he would not miss the tournament at the Foro Italico for any reason in the world.
Everything is very different from when he last trod the prestigious Capitoline stage. He is not the same, but neither is the team he has behind him. Three years ago on his bench still sat Vincenzo Santopadre, from whom he famously parted ways last October.
Berrettini looks ahead: words on new coach
Now in Santopadre’s place is Francisco Roig, who we’ve still seen a few times at work, unfortunately, alongside the Italian champion. The way Berrettini talks about it gives us a hint, though, that his choice was the right one. And that, sooner or later, Matteo will be able to reap the benefits of the work done together with his new Spanish coach.
He talked about him, but also about his longtime mentor, in the interview he gave in recent hours at the Forum to Super Tennis. An interview from which it is clear that the past is behind him and that Berrettini, without any regret or remorse, is already projected into the future. “With Vincenzo it was a beautiful journey that continues to exist, with relationships of beautiful friendship. With Francisco we are working well, he has a different method that I am studying, he brings with him 18 years of experience with Rafa Nadal. It’s nice, however we are meshing and getting to know each other. I think I will do good things with him. Now they just have to let me play.”
And everyone is dying, as is he, to understand how working with Roig has possibly changed his tennis. As well as to get back to cheering for a champion who, net of the criticism unfairly leveled against him, has rekindled in the Azzurri the desire for tennis and success.