Who Is Matteo Berrettini? The Hammer’s Rise, Setbacks And Comeback

Matteo Berrettini enters the spotlight again at the 2026 US Open after defeating three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in the first round, ending the Swiss veteran's Grand Slam career.

The 30-year-old Italian prevailed 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-0 on Monday, continuing a career that has seen him reach a Wimbledon final, climb as high as No. 6 in the ATP rankings, and establish himself as one of Italy's leading tennis players.

But who is Matteo Berrettini? Here is everything you need to know about the Italian star, from his early years and Grand Slam breakthrough to his injury struggles, playing style and career achievements.

Who is Matteo Berrettini?

Matteo Berrettini is an Italian professional tennis player from Rome. Born on April 12, 1996, he grew up in a tennis-playing family and was introduced to the sport at a young age.

Berrettini initially explored other sports, including swimming and judo, before returning to tennis after encouragement from his younger brother Jacopo, who is also a professional tennis player.

He turned professional in 2015 and gradually climbed the rankings before breaking into the ATP's elite in 2019.

Known for his imposing 1.96m frame, powerful serve and explosive forehand, Berrettini has built his career around an aggressive game that has been particularly effective on grass.

Matteo Berrettini's biggest career achievement

The defining achievement of Berrettini's career came at Wimbledon in 2021.

The Italian became the first Italian man to reach the Wimbledon singles final after defeating Hubert Hurkacz in the semi-finals. He had won 11 consecutive matches on grass during his run to the championship match.

Berrettini ultimately lost the final to Novak Djokovic in four sets, but his run established him as one of the leading players of his generation.

The Wimbledon breakthrough also cemented his reputation as one of the world's most dangerous grass-court players.

Matteo Berrettini's US Open record

Berrettini has also enjoyed significant success at the US Open.

His breakthrough at Flushing Meadows came in 2019, when he reached the semi-finals. He defeated Andrey Rublev and Gael Monfils before losing to Rafael Nadal in four sets.

That run helped Berrettini finish the 2019 season inside the world's top 10.

His latest US Open campaign began with a straight-sets victory over Wawrinka in 2026. The result came on an emotional night for Wawrinka, who was playing his final Grand Slam tournament.

Berrettini will next face Mariano Navone, who stunned fourth seed Djokovic in the opening round.

When did Matteo Berrettini reach his career-high ranking?

Berrettini reached a career-high No. 6 in the ATP rankings in January 2022.

He achieved the milestone after reaching the Australian Open semi-finals at the start of that season.

The Italian had already established himself among the world's best by then, following his Wimbledon final appearance and US Open semi-final run.

How many ATP titles has Matteo Berrettini won?

Berrettini has won 10 ATP Tour singles titles.

His first came at the Swiss Open in Gstaad in 2018. He subsequently won titles in Budapest, Stuttgart, Belgrade, Queen's Club and other tournaments across clay and grass.

His strongest period came in 2021 and 2022, when he won major grass-court titles and reached the Wimbledon final.

After an injury-disrupted 2023 season, Berrettini returned strongly in 2024, winning titles in Marrakech, Gstaad and Kitzbühel.

Matteo Berrettini's injury struggles

Injuries have been one of the biggest obstacles in Berrettini's career.

He underwent surgery on his right hand in 2022 and subsequently dealt with several physical problems, including abdominal, ankle, foot and oblique injuries.

His 2023 season was particularly difficult, with injuries limiting his appearances and eventually ending his campaign after he retired from his second-round match at the US Open.

The setbacks caused his ranking to slide, but he rebuilt his career in 2024, returning to the top 100 and eventually finishing the season ranked 34th.

Berrettini's comeback also included three ATP titles, making 2024 a significant year in his career.

## What is Matteo Berrettini's playing style?

Berrettini's game is built around power.

At 1.96m, he possesses the physical frame to generate significant pace on his serve, while his forehand is regarded as one of the biggest weapons in his game.

His serve-and-forehand combination is particularly effective on faster courts, with grass traditionally bringing out the best in his aggressive style.

Berrettini also has a strong slice backhand, which he frequently uses to disrupt opponents before looking to dictate points with his forehand.

His nickname, "The Hammer", reflects the power he can generate from the baseline.

## Matteo Berrettini's family and early life

Berrettini was born in Rome to Luca Berrettini and Claudia Bigo, both of whom played tennis at club level.

His younger brother Jacopo also became a professional tennis player.

According to Berrettini, his brother played an important role in bringing him back to tennis when he was around eight years old.

Although tennis eventually became his profession, Berrettini has spoken about his interest in other sports, particularly football and basketball.

He is a supporter of Fiorentina and has also expressed admiration for basketball star LeBron James.

## Who is Matteo Berrettini's idol?

Berrettini has long regarded Roger Federer as one of his biggest sporting idols.

He eventually had the opportunity to play Federer twice in 2019, at Wimbledon and the ATP Finals. Berrettini lost both matches but has described competing against Federer as one of the most significant experiences of his career.

He also faced Federer at the 2021 French Open, although the Swiss withdrew before their scheduled match.

Berrettini later became part of the Laver Cup field in 2022, replacing Federer after the Swiss legend played the final match of his professional career.

## Who is Matteo Berrettini's coach?

Berrettini's coaching setup has changed during the later stages of his career.

He split with longtime coach Vincenzo Santopadre in 2023 after working with him for many years. Santopadre was part of the team during Berrettini's rise into the world's top 10 and his run to the 2021 Wimbledon final.

Berrettini subsequently worked with Francisco Roig before moving to a new coaching setup involving Italian coach Umberto Rianna and Alessandro Bega, according to the supplied sources.

## Matteo Berrettini and the Davis Cup

Berrettini has also played an important role for Italy in the Davis Cup.

He helped Italy win the 2024 Davis Cup, defeating Botic van de Zandschulp in the final against the Netherlands.

It was another significant achievement for Berrettini after his individual career had been repeatedly interrupted by injuries.

## What happened to Matteo Berrettini in 2026?

Berrettini's 2026 season was again affected by injury.

An abdominal injury forced him to miss the start of the season, including the Australian Open. He later returned at Roland Garros, where he reached the quarter-finals before withdrawing because of injury.

His appearance at the US Open represents another opportunity to regain momentum on the Grand Slam stage.

His first-round victory over Wawrinka has now put him into the second round, where he will face Navone.

## Matteo Berrettini's career at a glance

| Category | Details |
| -------------------- | ----------------- |
| Full name | Matteo Berrettini |
| Date of birth | April 12, 1996 |
| Age | 30 |
| Birthplace | Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Height | 1.96m |
| Turned professional | 2015 |
| Career-high ranking | No. 6 |
| ATP singles titles | 10 |
| Wimbledon best | Runner-up, 2021 |
| US Open best | Semi-finals, 2019 |
| Australian Open best | Semi-finals, 2022 |
| French Open best | Quarter-finals |
| Davis Cup | Winner, 2024 |

## Why Matteo Berrettini matters at the US Open

Berrettini's victory over Wawrinka was more than another first-round result. It placed the Italian back in the conversation at a Grand Slam where he has already enjoyed one of the best runs of his career.

At his peak, Berrettini was a top-six player capable of challenging the biggest names in men's tennis. His career since then has been defined as much by injuries and comebacks as by his performances on court.

At 30, the Italian is now attempting to turn another return into a sustained run at the highest level. His next test against Navone will offer another indication of whether Berrettini can build on his latest Grand Slam opportunity.