Matteo Berrettini grapples with a curious (and unfortunate) pattern
Matteo Berrettini was eliminated in the second round of the Shanghai Masters 1000. The Italian, currently ranked No. 46 in the ATP rankings, was defeated by Brandon Nakashima with a score of 7-6(4), 7-5, thus ending his run in the Chinese tournament after his opening-round victory over Aleksandar Kovacevic.
Beyond the result, there is a striking coincidence that has been accompanying the Roman’s season finale for several weeks now. In fact, in his last four tournaments, Berrettini has never managed to string together two consecutive wins: every victory has been followed by a loss.
The streak began in Cincinnati, where he defeated Titouan Droguet before losing to Jiri Lehecka. The same pattern repeated itself at the US Open, with a victory over Stan Wawrinka followed by an elimination at the hands of Mariano Navone. In Tokyo, he defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina before being eliminated by Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. Finally, in Shanghai, he lost to Nakashima after beating Kovacevic.
While these results highlight the former top-10 player’s struggles to find consistency in major tournaments, they also confirm that the physical issues that have plagued his recent seasons appear to be gradually fading into the past. Berrettini is, in fact, managing to take the court regularly, but he continues to struggle somewhat in closely contested matches and at decisive moments.
His immediate goal remains to consolidate his position among the top 50 players in the world rankings. In the background, however, is the Davis Cup, an event in which Berrettini’s contribution could prove crucial. With Jannik Sinner absent, the Roman’s experience and charisma represent a valuable asset for the Italian national team.
Alongside Flavio Cobolli and Lorenzo Musetti, Berrettini is expected to be one of the key players on the team led by captain Filippo Volandri, which is why arriving at the tournament in the best possible condition remains the top priority for the remainder of the season.
