After Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Italian sensation Matteo Berrettini becomes the latest player to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics. The Italian did put up a post on Instagram sharing the heartbreaking news of his departure due to an injury sustained on his thigh.
The World 8. recently reached his first Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon where he lost to Novak Djokovic in a four setter intense clash. He picked up the injury during Wimbledon and hence found himself in this situation.
The Men’s tennis circuit at the Tokyo 2020 is already shorthanded with several top players withdrawing for several reasons. Therefore people thought Berrettini would have another go at Djokovic at the Japanese capital. But unfortunately, he has withdrawn due to injury concerns. His absence will make it a very easy road to the Olympic Gold Medal. This was going to be his first Summer Games which added more desperation to the whole issue.
“I am extremely disappointed to announce my withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympic Games,” Berrettini wrote on Instagram. “I had an MRI scan yesterday on the thigh injury I sustained during Wimbledon and was informed I will not be able to compete for a couple of weeks.
“Representing Italy is the biggest honour for me so it is devastating to miss the Olympics. I wish the entire Italian team the best of luck in Tokyo. I will be supporting you all the way.”
Apart from Federer and Nadal, players like Dennis Shapovalov and Juan Martin Del Porto will also skip the Summer Games in Tokyo for various reasons.
Berrettini’s coach Vincenzo Santopadre explained how the injury was picked up during the Wimbledon semifinal against Hubert Hurkacz and got aggravated in the finals against the Serb.
“Matteo got this muscle trouble when he crashed during the Wimbledon semi-final,” Santopadre told Gazzetta Dello Sport.
“Then obviously he pushed himself in the final and already felt pain from Monday. Fortunately, it is not the abdominal problem he has suffered from in the past. In that case, the recovery would have been much longer and more delicate.”
The Italian was in brilliant form in the grass court as he won his second title at the Queens’ by defeating Cameron Norrie. He carried that form into the Wimbledon before ending up as a runner up and people thought that he would replicate that form at the Olympics. But it is just the start for the young Italian as wait for the next Summer Games to make his mark.
“It’s been a really long, long path, long journey. Hopefully like I said, it’s not done yet. For me, this is not the end. It is beginning hopefully to a great career,” he concluded.
