28-year-old Italian tennis star Matteo Berrettini may have lost in straight sets in men's singles to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Round of 32 at the BNP Paribas Open, but he is still a winner.
Two hosts of the Nothing Major podcast, Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson, bestowed Berrettini's latest honor on him in a scenic Indian Wells parking lot earlier this week.
The ward had little to do with tennis, but was still unique.
What Matteo Berrettini won
Querrey and Johnson, along with fellow Nothing Major hosts John Isner and Jack Sock conducted their own March Madness bracket called the Hottie Bracket Challenge. They pitted so-called tennis hotties against one another through various rounds, and with the help of fans and listeners, crowned a winner.
Berrettini is the 2025 winner amid tight competition from fellow Italian Lorenzo Mussetti and Americans Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz.
The Peoples Champion.
— Nothing Major Podcast (@NothingMajorPod) March 11, 2025
In the most prestigious of Indian Wells parking lots, Matteo Berrettini was officially presented with his 2025 Hottie Bracket Championship trophy.#HottieBracket | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/Wot5dxET5T
Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson, at Indian Wells doing broadcast work for the Tennis Channel, caught up with Berrettini in a parking lot and presented him with the prize, which included a trophy, banner, and a $15 gift card from the Olive Garden. Nothing Major has a great sense of humor because it is hard to imagine Berrettini eating American Italian food instead of the authentic food he is accustomed to.
Matteo Berrettini lost in the quarterfinals at Indian Wells
Berrettini and fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego made it to the men's doubles quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open. Their match against Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo was lost in straight sets. They had yet to drop a set and had not been challenged in their previous rounds, most notably in the first round against fifth-seeded team Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus.
LET’S GO 💪
— ItaliaTeam (@ItaliaTeam_it) March 12, 2025
Tutto facile per Matteo Berrettini e Lorenzo Sonego nel doppio a Indian Wells! 🎾
Gli azzurri battono in un’ora e mezza Trhac-Seggerman con il punteggio di 6-3 6-2 e volano ai quarti di finale!! 👏
Adesso affronteranno il temibile duo Arevalo-Pavic!
Dajeeeee 💙… pic.twitter.com/M8kd9a2sVW
The 2021 Wimbledon finalist was seeking his third career doubles title to add to his impressive resume of ten singles titles. Berrettini has struggled with persistent injuries in recent years, and it is wonderful to see him back on the ATP Tour, healthy and happy.
The Nothing Major podcast airs new episodes every Monday through Friday and is a must-listen for tennis fans because it is informative and hilarious.