Italian professional tennis player Matteo Berrettini has been having a lot of bad luck in his career in the court, with the most recent being in the ongoing Australian Open 2024, from which he had to withdraw due to an unfortunately timed right foot injury.
This adds to the list of various health issues which have plagued the 2021 Wimbledon Championship finalist in the recent years, causing him to withdraw from four majors since 2022, while also retiring mid-match in 2023’s US Open.
Berrettini, ranked No. 91 in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals, was expected to go up against reigning runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is ranked No. 7 in the world, in a sensational first round.
However, the spot against the Greek was instead taken up by Belgian professional tennis player Zizou Bergs, who is currently ranked No. 152 in the entire world, with his highest being No. 112 on February of 2023.
Tsitsipas won in an outstanding fashion against Bergs with a 5-7 6-1 6-1 6-3 scoreline on Monday, 15 January 2024 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia, while Berrettini could only watch the match unfold.
Matteo Berrettini cannot catch a break. 😭
A right foot injury has ruled the Italian out of the Australian Open.
Berrettini was due to face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round. Lucky loser Zizou Bergs moves into his spot.#AusOpen https://t.co/eTkwin7dd6
— TENNIS (@Tennis) January 14, 2024
Berrettini’s Streak of Bad Luck
In a thrilling five-set match in Australia in 2023, Andy Murray sent Berrettini packing in the first round after he failed to convert a match point. After suffering from an abdominal ailment, he missed Roland Garros, but he later made a good comeback at the All England Club in the fourth round.
The Italian’s bad luck reappeared at the US Open when he hurt his right ankle in the second set of his play against Arthur Rinderknech in the second round. He retired from the match and later disclosed that he had torn a ligament.
Berrettini was forced to watch his countrymen play in the Davis Cup Finals in November 2023 as well, where Italy won the championship for the first time since 1976.
Going further back at the beginning of his rough times, Berrettini missed both Wimbledon and Roland Garros in 2022; the former due to a hand injury and the latter due to him contacting COVID-19.
Given an early scare, last year's finalist keeps his #AO2024 dream alive.@steftsitsipas is through in four 5-7 6-1 6-1 6-3.#AusOpen • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/5ysi5XHwCQ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 15, 2024
The No. 1 at Australian Open 2024
The Australian Open 2024 is not only watching the greatest of players give their best to get a Grand Slam title behind their name, but also some brand-new players who are surprising the world with their determination and skills. Dino Prizmic is one such name, who pushed the No.1 player in the entire world to play his best in order to avoid an upset from the 18-year-old.
Professional Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, who is considered to be ranked Number 1 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals, defeated the prodigy Dino Prizmic on 14 January, the first day of the Australian Open, after the longest first-round match in the champion’s grand slam career.
The challenging opponent forced the ten-time Australian Open champion to play his best tennis in a physical match, and Djokovic prevailed 6-2 6-7 6-3 6-4 in just over four hours, reaching one step closer to his goal of obtaining a record breaking 25th grand slam title.
Midway through the third set, Prizmic, the 178th-ranked player in the world, crossed Djokovic to take the lead, raising the possibility of an upset. After that however, the 36-year-old responded in a manner characteristic of his playing style, taking the next eight games to shut out the youngster and eventually crossing the finishing line to his victory.
Prizmic made his debut against Djokovic in the very first round of the men’s singles matches for the Australian Open tournament at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia. Although Prizmic lost the match, his tremendous determination and incredible skills made Djokovic applaud with the whole live audience as he walked off the court.
The 10-time Australian Open winner in a post-match interview by Eurosport expressed how at one time it felt as if he was playing against himself in the mirror. Djokovic revealed that he told the youngster during the post-match handshake that he should be proud of himself and that he deserves every applause that he got from the crowd due to his unbelievable performance.
Djokovic explained how he felt under the weather for the last four or five days, as understood by the condition of his voice. However, he took nothing from his opponent, praising how he felt amazing to have faced such a challenge from Prizmic.
