Matteo Berrettini, a washout: what everyone dreamed of was not meant to happen.
Even before the curtain fell on the season, Matteo Berrettini made a decision that, like it or not, will radically change the course of events. He parted ways, that is, as has been known for several days now, with the coach who had taken Vincenzo Santopadre’s place, namely Francisco Roig. And not because together they did not achieve the desired results, on the contrary.
Although they collaborated for only a few months, they won no less than three Atp titles, at a time, moreover, very difficult for the Roman tennis player. No one would have bet a dime, probably, on his resurgence, while the 2021 Wimbledon finalist managed, in spite of everything, to impose himself in several competitions that on paper seemed to be out of his reach. A sign that the former top ten is still there, somewhere, although the course of events has not smiled on him.
But back to the question of coaching. Berrettini will have to look for a new coach, with a view to the new season, always provided he does not decide to rely solely and exclusively on Alessandro Bega, who followed him in his 2024 exploits and made an immeasurable contribution to the capital champion’s revival. An alternative hypothesis, to tell the truth, had leaked out in the past few hours, but events have taken such a turn that, at this point, it is obvious that nothing will be done about it.
Berrettini, deal fades: no go
Many fans, upon learning the news of the divorce from Roig, immediately began fantasizing about a possible partnership between Berrettini and one of the best coaches on the market. A coach who was indeed free at the time of the separation. But who, alas, is no longer.
We are talking about Goran Ivanisevic, who for years flanked former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. To our knowledge, there has never been any real contact between Matteo and the Serb’s former coach, but it costs nothing to dream, and Berrettini’s aficionados have been hoping with all their might that he could sit on the Italian champion’s bench,
It will not happen, however, considering that the Croatian coach has decided to marry the project of one of Wta’s brightest stars. Ivanisevic will coach Elena Rybakina starting from the post-season: he will follow her preparation for the 2025 season, while he will not be present in his box these days in Riyadh, where the Women’s Finals are being played. No dice, then, for Berrettini and Berrettinians: Goran will not be his guardian angel.