Matteo Berrettini, known for his affable and down-to-earth personality, created a heartwarming moment before stepping onto the court at the ATP Shanghai. Moments before his match against Holger Rune, Berrettini engaged in a sweet conversation with a little girl assigned to accompany him to his bench.
Curious, the Italian tennis star asked her age, to which she adorably replied, “seven.” Berrettini, with a bright smile, responded by playfully telling her how lucky she was, lightening the mood before his competitive encounter.
This brief yet touching exchange not only highlighted Berrettini’s friendly nature but also made for a memorable moment, reminding fans of the lighter, more human side of the sport. The video of the interaction has since captured the hearts of many, offering a glimpse into his approachable and fun-loving personality.
Rune in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2024
Ranked world no.14, Rune owns a composed 38-20 record in 2024. Holger is now having a run in Shanghai where he bested the world no.44 Matteo Berrettini 4-6 6-4 6-3 and the world no.34 Jiri Lehecka 6-4 7-5.
Holger Rune will compete against the world no.289 Giovanni Fonio in the quarter. They have never competed against each other until now on the main tour.
Holger was the finalist in Brisbane (Brisbane International).
Holger won 4 titles in his career: 2 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)
He is also scheduled to play in Basel (Swiss Indoors Basel) on the 21st of October and Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) on the 28th of October.
Matteo Berrettini in 2024
Currently the world no.44, the Italian played his last match on the 7th of October when he was defeated by world no.14 Holger Rune 4-6 6-4 6-3 in the 2nd round in Shanghai (draw).
This season Berrettini has achieved a compiled 31-10 match record. Matteo clinched 3 titles in 2024 in Marrakech, Gstaad and Kitzbuhel. The Italian was the finalist in the Phoenix Challenger and Stuttgart.
Berrettini has scheduled to play next in Stockholm (BNP Paribas Nordic Open). He will start from the main draw that will commence on the 1st of January.
Holger Rune and Matteo Berrettini fought against each other 4 times. Their actual record is 3-1 for Rune. Before, the last time they locked horns, Holger Rune won 4-6 6-4 6-3 in the 2nd round in Shanghai (Shanghai Rolex Masters) on the 7th of October 2024.
Here the video highlights.