Matteo Berrettini has teamed up with Francisco Roig, the former coach of Rafael Nadal, for his 2024 comeback to the tennis court. He parted ways with longtime coach Vincenzo Santopadre in October.
Because of injuries, Berrettini’s 2023 season has been inconsistent. After the Australian Open, he took a two-month break. Before facing Holger Rune in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters, he had to withdraw from the competition due to an abdominal injury.
But Berrettini is now prepared to return next year to play in the Brisbane International to get some match practice before the Australian Open starts. In December of 2022, Roig and Nadal announced their separation following an 18-year successful partnership.
BREAKING 🚨
Francisco Roig is the new coach of Matteo Berrettini. pic.twitter.com/FnMOpC6Ny9
— Relevant Tennis (@RelevantTennis) December 12, 2023
Matteo Berrettini in 2023
Now ranked no.92, Matteo played his last match on the 31st of August when he had to retire when playing against world no.96 Arthur Rinderknech in the 2nd round and the scoreline was 6-4 5-3 .
Until now, during this year Matteo has managed to achieve a compiled 14-12 win-loss record. Matteo Berrettini’s most significant achievement of this year was reaching the final in Australia.
Berrettini is expected to play next in Brisbane (Brisbane International). He is currently an alternate. The main draw will start on the 31st of December.
Rafael Nadal in 2023
Now ranked no.668, the Spaniard played his last match on the 18th of January when he lost to world no.41 Mackenzie Mcdonald 6-4 6-4 7-5 in the 2nd round of the Australian Open (draw).
Currently, during this season Rafael achieved a composed 1-3 win-loss record.
Nadal has scheduled to play next in Brisbane (Brisbane International). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 31st of December thanks to a wild card.
Matteo Berrettini and Rafael Nadal fought against each other just twice. Their current head to head is 2-0 for Nadal. Before, the last time they played each other, Rafael Nadal won 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 in the semifinal in Melbourne (Australian Open) in January 2022.
You can watch the highlights in the following video.
