Berrettini Heading to Wimbledon: Zero Grass-Court Matches, But "I'll Be Ready"

Matteo Berrettini will arrive at Wimbledon without having played a single match on grass this season, yet he says he's confident: "I've suffered a lot, but I'm pleased with the work done over the past few weeks, and I'll be ready for Wimbledon". Words that carry weight, considering the Italian hasn't stepped onto a court since retiring with a hip problem in the Roland Garros quarterfinals.

In Paris, Berrettini had rediscovered a tournament as a real protagonist, before having to surrender to Matteo Arnaldi at 7-5, 5-2. The pain, which started in his left hip, forced him to throw in the towel after trying to grit his teeth. A new injury, distinct from the right-hip problem that had held him back in 2019 and 2020.

Since then, no grass at all: no warm-up tournament, no match to test his legs on the surface that made him famous. The 2021 Wimbledon finalist therefore arrives in London completely in the dark about his level of form on his favourite surface.

His entry into the main draw came by roundabout means. When entries closed, the Italian was outside the direct cut-off and relegated to second among the alternates, with the spectre of qualifying looming; only his subsequent climb up the rankings after Paris, to his current world number 49, brought him back into contention. It was Lorenzo Musetti's withdrawal that threw the doors open, freeing up a spot and handing him direct access to the main draw. The Championships will get under way on 29 June.