Matteo Berrettini began well against Matteo Arnaldi in the quarterfinals of the 2026 French Open. The former led 3-0 in the opening set, maybe finally on the cusp of getting his first Grand Slam title with just a couple more victories. Then, his career-long problem hit.
Berrettini could have been one of the better players of his generation if not for getting injured so many times. He has suffered several, and after Arnaldi came back to take the first set 7-5, and began to somewhat pull away in set two, Berrettini appeared to sustain a left hip injury.
He took a medical timeout but tried to keep playing through. Down game point at 2-4, Arnaldi hit a forehand down the line, and Berrettini could only attempt to limp toward the ball. His team clearly wanted him to stop playing, and after sitting in his seat between games, Berrettini decided enough was enough.
Matteo Berrettini deals with another tournament-ending injury at the 2026 French Open
One might wonder how much longer the 30-year-old Italian will keep playing. The shame isn't just for the player, either. He possesses a bombastic forehand, which he oddly kept missing with in the first set and set himself up for failure, and a huge serve, and had he stayed healthy for much of his career, he likely would have challenged for majors and a top 5 ranking.
What makes matters worse is that he also possesses the kind of charm and good looks that would have made him a global superstar outside the sport, thereby lifting tennis and helping reach those who might not have followed the sport otherwise.
He still does that to a degree, but so much more could have gone right for him, except for his inability to be available consistently. He has spent too much time rehabbing from injuries, those things he cannot truly control.
His hip injury was at least good news, though probably bittersweet for his fellow Italian, Matteo Arnaldi. Arnaldi is now in the semifinals, where he will face another countryman, Flavio Cobolli. The winner of which will take on the winner of the Alexander Zverev and Jakub Mensik match. Whoever wins the French Open, however, will be winning their first major.
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