Paolo Bertolucci moves everyone with his tribute to Elena Pero: “It’s hard to move on”

There are times when tennis inevitably takes a back seat. This happened during the Shanghai Masters 1000 final, won by Davidovich Fokina over Rafael Jodar, when Paolo Bertolucci, during the Italian broadcast of the final on Sky Sport, chose to pay tribute to Elena Pero, one of the most beloved and recognizable voices in Italian tennis—with whom he had shared countless commentaries—who recently passed away after a serious illness.

During the broadcast, the former tennis player and current commentator was unable to hold back his emotions, sharing a particularly touching memory with viewers. “This is the first time I’ve commentated on a tournament since Elena Pero left us. Without her, the tennis microphone, as Gaia Piccardi rightly wrote (in her tribute in *Corriere della Sera*, ed.), is voiceless.”

Bertolucci’s words immediately struck a chord with fans and were followed by an even more poignant reflection on the void left by the Sky Sport journalist: “It’s hard to move forward,” Bertolucci explained, “but I believe we all must strive to convey to the fans at least a fraction of the immense love Elena had for this sport, and this is a mission we absolutely must carry on.”

A message delivered with great composure yet rich in meaning, which quickly resonated on social media among fans, colleagues, and industry insiders. Elena Pero was considered one of the most beloved figures in Italian tennis journalism, capable of covering the sport with expertise, passion, and sensitivity—qualities that had earned her the affection of both fans and the stars of the circuit.