Another big name to be added to the withdrawal list as Matteo Berrettini of Italy has been compelled to remove his name from the Tokyo Olympics following a muscle strain, acknowledged by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) on Sunday.
Berrettini faced the injury in London during the Grand Slam tournament. “Matteo got this muscle trouble when he crashed during the Wimbledon semi-final,” told his coach Vincenzo Santopadre to Gazzetta Dello Sport.
“Then obviously he pushed himself in the final and already felt pain from Monday. Fortunately, it is not the abdominal problem he has suffered from in the past. In that case, the recovery would have been much longer and more delicate.”
World number 8 Berrettini on Instagram wrote: “I am extremely sorry to announce my cancellation from the Tokyo Olympics. I had an MRI yesterday to test on the left leg injury I sustained during Wimbledon and the result was not positive. I won’t be able to contend for few weeks and will have to rest.”
The 25-year-old Wimbledon finalist who became the first Italian to advance there where he played against world number one Novak Djokovic and was thwarted by the Serb in four sets of the singles final was spearheading a team of Italy that involved Fabio Fognini, Lorenzo Sonego, Lorenzo Musetti in the men’s tennis.
“Representing Italy is a huge honour. I am devasted to not be able to play in the Olympics. I will support you from afar,” added the Italian Wimbledon finalist to his Instagram post.
Matteo Berrettini was presented along with Italy’s EURO 2020 winning football team who defeated England in the finals of the European Championship, with mementos from the Italian Prime Minister last week.