Paris: Italian tennis star Matteo Berrettini has withdrawn from the 2025 French Open due to a persistent fitness issue, ending his hopes of competing at Roland Garros this year. The 29-year-old announced the decision on Thursday via Instagram, just days before the clay-court Grand Slam begins in Paris.
“Ciao everyone,” Berrettini wrote beneath a photo of himself, “I unfortunately had to make the very difficult decision to withdraw from Roland Garros. I just ran out of time to feel 100% ready to compete at the level that is needed.”
Berrettini’s withdrawal adds to a challenging period marked by recurring injuries that have disrupted his momentum on the ATP Tour. He had been working on a comeback following an abdominal injury that forced him to retire during his third-round match against Jack Draper at the Madrid Open earlier this month. His struggles continued when he withdrew last week from the Italian Open during his third-round clash with Casper Ruud after a promising start to the clay season.
Currently ranked world No. 28, Berrettini has faced multiple physical setbacks since his breakthrough run to the Wimbledon final in 2021. He missed the 2023 Australian Open due to a right foot injury and pulled out of the 2022 Italian Open to recover from a torn stomach muscle, an injury that has frequently troubled his career.
Despite these challenges, Berrettini remains optimistic about his future. “I’m looking forward to competing on grass and am already preparing with my team,” he said. “I’m very appreciative of the support I feel from you all and can’t wait to be back out on the court.”
With 10 career titles and a US Open semifinal appearance in 2019, Berrettini has historically excelled on grass courts. His absence at Roland Garros is a setback for fans hoping to see him regain form on one of tennis’ most demanding surfaces. A lucky loser from the qualifying rounds is expected to fill Berrettini’s spot in the main draw.
With IANS inputs