Berrettini: "Mental health has become one of the most important things for me"

Pedro de Pablos | 9 Feb 2026 | 16.34

Berrettini: "Mental Health Has Become One of the Most Important Things for Me"

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Matteo Berrettini is one of the most important names in Italian tennis in the last decade. However, the former number six in the ATP rankings has been dealing with a calvary of injuries for years that have deprived him of the necessary consistency to compete in major tournaments. Over the past few years, Berrettini has learned to prioritize himself and his mental health, a key factor in understanding why he has risen after every fall.

The ankle, the abdominal, the oblique... The number 58 in the ATP rankings has gone through all kinds of setbacks, which have in some way made him mentally stronger. This is what he confessed in an interview with Marie Claire, where he highlighted a mental evolution that has allowed him to face each tournament in a different way, without as much pressure to achieve good results. In fact, although he revealed a few months ago that he had come to hate tennis, he has not ruled out staying connected to the sport once he retires.

"Mental health has become one of the most important things for me. Obviously, I take care of my nutrition, training, sleep routine, and all that, but mental well-being has become crucial, especially due to the injuries and everything that came with them. I am working a lot on that aspect with my team. I have people who help me, and that has turned into a super positive routine that has helped me a lot, especially in the last two or three years when the pressure was greater, and I had to deal with injuries," he said.

The change in mentality that has allowed Berrettini to smile again

Between 2019 and 2021, Berrettini reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, the semifinals at the US Open and the Australian Open, and the Wimbledon final. However, in recent times, he has found his own body to be his greatest enemy, leading him to understand success in a different way. "I have already won good trophies, had a career I never imagined when I started playing. Being able to live from my passion and have that as my job is a privilege. Obviously, results matter, but I believe that how you live your career and how you enjoy it is what truly defines success. And that's why I feel happy today."

This does not imply a lack of competitive hunger, just that Matteo now views things from a much healthier perspective for his mind. A player with his serve and power can beat anyone on a good day, as he demonstrated last year against Novak Djokovic at the ATP 500 in Doha, but he also does not want to rush. In fact, this mentality has led him to think about a future linked to the royal sport of the racket, although there is still a long way to go before that moment.

Berrettini will compete again this Tuesday in the ATP 500 in Buenos Aires

"I don't know if I will continue in the tennis world. Sometimes I want to, but other times not, because it is a demanding career, with many travels, far from the people you love… it's not easy. I know I will do something that requires energy, because I have a lot. I believe I am good at communicating, speaking, and why not? teaching. I have always had that impulse to help the kids, the new generations. Probably something related to that, but I will decide when the time comes," he concluded.

After almost three months without playing at a professional level, Berrettini will return to the circuit this Tuesday, February 10, in the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires, where he will start as the eighth seed and debut against Federico Coria, the local idol. His intention is to regain the consistency that his physique has deprived him of in recent years and continue climbing positions in the rankings towards the top, a place to which he belongs due to his talent.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Berrettini: "La salud mental se ha vuelto una de las cosas más importantes para mí"

ATP