Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini has become the latest high-profile player to pull out of the Olympics.
The world No.8 has been forced to withdraw from the Tokyo Games due to an ongoing thigh injury which he sustained at The All England Club where he became the first player from his country to reach the final. He is suffering from a muscle strain and it is estimated that he will need roughly 15 days to recover.
In an Instagram post Berrettini says he is ‘devastated’ to withdraw from the Olympics after undergoing an MRI. He was set to play in the Games for the first time his career at the age of 25 and would have been the sixth highest ranked player in the men’s draw.
“I am extremely disappointed to announce my withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympic Games,” Berrettini wrote.
“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.”
Vincenzo Santopadre, who is Berrettini’s coach, said the injury first started during the Wimbledon semi-finals when he ‘crashed’ on the court. He had been suffering from pain in the region since the day after losing to Novak Djokovic in the final.
“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 Olympic Committee (CONI) has confirmed that Berrettini will not be replaced in the squad due to rules set out by the International Tennis Federation. The country will still have three representatives in the men’s singles draw with Lorenzo Sonego, Fabio Fognini and Lorenzo Musetti taking part. Jannik Sinner opted not to play at the Olympics because he wants to ‘focus on his development as a player.’
Italy has only ever won one Olympic medal in tennis which was back in 1924 when Uberto De Morpurgo claimed bronze in the men’s singles.
The Olympic tennis tournament will start on Saturday.
