Berrettini Expresses Frustration Over Injury-Induced Retirement as French Open Dreams Fade

Matteo Berrettini has voiced his exhaustion with being forced to withdraw from matches, as an injury halted his campaign for a first Grand Slam title at the French Open. The 30-year-old Italian was leading 5-2 in the second set against compatriot Matteo Arnaldi in their quarter-final clash when a hip issue compelled him to abandon the contest.

The withdrawal came after Berrettini had already utilized a medical timeout early in the second set. In the final game of the match, he sharply pulled up while chasing a ball. He remained seated for several moments, looking visibly dejected, before shaking hands with Arnaldi at the net.

This setback continues a difficult period for the former world number six, whose career has been marred by various physical issues since his runner-up finish to Novak Djokovic at the 2021 Wimbledon final. These injuries have significantly contributed to his inability to advance beyond a single Grand Slam final appearance.

"It was really hard [to retire] because I thought that wasn't the right thing, mostly because I have done it many times and I'm tired of retiring," Berrettini admitted. "I didn't want the tournament to end like this."

Berrettini’s last Grand Slam retirement occurred at the 2023 US Open. His injury struggles are extensive, having also forced an early exit from the 2021 ATP Tour Finals due to abdominal pain and requiring him to withdraw mid-match in both Madrid and Rome last season. Having missed the previous four editions of the French Open due to injury, this marked his return to Roland Garros since 2021.

Despite the painful exit, the Italian remains focused on the positives of reaching his seventh Grand Slam quarter-final. Currently ranked 105th, he reflected on his journey: "I have to take the good stuff that I did in this tournament, because a few weeks ago or a few days ago, it would have been crazy to think about me in the quarter-finals, and so I'll try to go back home with a smile on my face."

He added, "It's going to be tough but that's how I like to approach these two weeks, and of course I'm disappointed, I'm sad, but I'm also proud of the way I fought through this tournament."

Arnaldi, who is now 104th in the world rankings, became the lowest-ranked male player to reach a French Open singles semi-final since Filip Dewulf achieved the feat in 1997 at rank 122. He will face fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli, the 10th seed, on Friday in an attempt to secure a spot in Sunday’s final.

After his victory, Arnaldi expressed sympathy for his opponent. "You never wish for someone to end the tournament like this," he said. "He did an amazing tournament. I am sorry for him and I hope he recovers because soon it is the grass and he is going to be very tough to play."

Arnaldi’s path to the semi-finals has been physically demanding. He has spent more time on court than any player reaching a Grand Slam men’s quarter-final since statistics began being tracked in 1991. Including the quarter-final match, he has logged nearly 20 hours of play across five matches.

When asked about his physical state, the 25-year-old stated, "Today I was feeling actually pretty good," adding, "I for sure have some energy left for the next matches."

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 22:51:56 UTC