Matteo Berrettini and Austria - 2022 no love story
Matteo Berrettini canceled the Erste Bank Open in Vienna at the last moment. The Italian had to do that in Kitzbühel.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
Oct 24, 2022, 09:24 pm
The announcement that Matteo Berrettini will not take part in the Erste Bank Open 2022 almost went unnoticed on Monday afternoon in the hype surrounding Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev's media appointments. But only almost. Because Berrettini is one of the biggest attractions in the tennis circus, not only his, you have to honestly say that as a fellow of his sex, almost frighteningly great looks. In any case, it is no coincidence that the new title sponsor of the Stuttgart men's tournament has snapped up Berrettini as a testimonial.
From the point of view of the organizers, the withdrawal of Berrettini, who is citing a foot injury suffered in Naples, is painful. The field of participants in Vienna can handle a tournament without a Berrettini quite well. The situation was different in Kitzbühel in the summer. There, Berrettini (exhaustion) and Casper Ruud (back) retired as top seeds a few hours before the start of the Generali Open. Not nice for fans and tournament directors.
Berrettini probably without a chance of Turin
Now, of course, it doesn't help anyone if Matteo Berrettini hatches onto the center court in the Stadthalle and gives up after a few games. But anyone who remembers the past year knows what the spectators in the Stadthalle are missing out on. In 2021, the Roman had what was probably the best match of the entire event with Carlos Alcaraz. With the better ending for the Spaniard, who is in Basel this week.
It is also clear that Matteo Berrettini did not lightly let himself be removed from the list of participants in Vienna: Because this reduces the chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin enormously. And that was one of Berrettini's stated goals.
Here the individual tableau in Vienna
viennamap