You would think that battling constant injuries would make a player feel bitter, irked with his dreadful fate. Although some part of that might be true, Matteo Berrettini never gave up. Marred with physical restraints for nearly two years, he concluded the season with a second consecutive Davis Cup win alongside the Italian team. So what if he couldn’t bring out the best in himself due to injuries for the remaining part of the year? His struggles have only made him fall in love with the sport more.

We all remember how Berrettini was whisked away from the US Open in a wheelchair in 2023. The Italian sensation rolled his ankle while attempting a backhand return during his second-round contest in New York. That year was already challenging for the 28-year-old. A torn oblique muscle and surgery on his right hand forced him to skip the entire clay swing, including Roland Garros. However, he tried to reinvent his form on the tour this year, and gladly, obtained modest results.

While Berrettini’s Slam results remained underwhelming, the Italian player won tour-level events in Gstaad and Austria and finished runner-up at the Stuttgart Open. With merely days left for the 2025 season to commence, the former World No. 6 penned a beautiful note for the sport that has given him so much. In a video released by the ATP, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist poured his heart out as he directly spoke to the love of his life, tennis.

He spoke, “I felt like you were the love of my life. You were challenging and continue to be challenging, but that’s probably why I like you so much. Dear tennis, my whole family introduced us. It was something that ran in our blood. I think everything, if we can call it bad, that happened was worth it because it has led me here to enjoy you, your fullness.  I think after all these years, I know you quite well, so it would be great to see what the future holds for us. With love, Matteo.”

Before professing his love for tennis directly, Berrettini candidly heaped praise on his Italian teammate Jannik Sinner as well.

Matteo Berrettini explains why Jannik Sinner is the ‘most humble player’

Italian star Matteo Berrettini played a major role in assisting Italy advance to the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga. And when his prowess met the aid of World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, the duo became unstoppable. Sinner capped the year by bringing glory back home for the second consecutive time and it happened a week after he lifted his maiden ATP Finals title in Turin, prompting his countryman to heap praises on his formidability and demeanor.

During a post-match presser in Malaga, Berrettini told the reporters: “I think I speak for everyone, it’s a special experience. Last year when we were here, we looked at each other and said ‘This guy is special, he is different. As you have seen, he is the most humble player there is. He came here as if he had not won the ATP Finals. He showed great respect for the team.”

Berrettini wasn’t the only one to have an emotional week in Malaga. Spanish legend Rafael Nadal drew the curtains on his stellar legacy on the night Spain lost the quarterfinal rubber to the Netherlands. As for the Italian, he will likely take to the court next at the Australian hardcourt swing in 2025.