Matteo Berrettini tests positive for Covid-19, withdraws from Wimbledon

Italian tennis player Matteo Berrettini has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon after testing positive for Covid-19.

Berrettini, who was defeated in last year’s final by Novak Djokovic and returned as one of the favourites to win the men’s singles after successfully defending his Queen’s Club title, confirmed the news on his social media site.

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“I am heartbroken to announce that I need to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a positive Covid-19 test result,” he said.

“I have had flu symptoms and have been isolated for the last few days. Despite symptoms not being severe, I decided it was important to take another test this morning to protect the health and safety of my fellow competitors and everyone else involved in the tournament.”

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“I have no words to describe the extreme disappointment I feel. The dream is over for this year, but I will be back stronger. Thank you for the support.”

Berrettini had been due to play Cristian Garin on No 1 Court this afternoon.

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Matteo Berrettini has been ranked as high as world No. 6 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which he achieved in January 2022. Berrettini has won seven ATP Tour singles titles and produced his best major performance by reaching the final of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships.

After turning professional in 2015, Berrettini won two singles titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour and three on the ATP Challenger Tour, breaking into the top 100 of the ATP rankings in May 2018.

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Two months later, he reached his first ATP Tour final at the 2018 Swiss Open, where he won his maiden title and made his top 60 debut.

In 2019, after claiming two further titles at the Hungarian Open and Stuttgart Open, he entered into the top 25, and carried his momentum into his maiden career major semifinal at the US Open to end the year ranked in the top 10.

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Berrettini made additional strides in 2021, after reaching his first Masters 1000 final at the Madrid Open, winning his first ATP 500 title at the Queen’s Club Championships, and becoming the first Italian player, male or female, to contest a Wimbledon singles final.