Matteo Berrettini's tearful withdrawal from the Rome Masters 1000: "I hope I didn't break myself."

Few stories on the ATP circuit are as cruel as that experienced by Matteo Berrettini at this year's Rome Masters 1000, his home tournament, where he withdrew in tears after experiencing severe abdominal pain, an ailment that has plagued him for far too long. Now, the local player is only thinking about whether the break has come "in time," fearing he may have "destroyed" his muscle tissue .

The Italian retired from his match against Norwegian Casper Ruud in the third round of the Rome Masters 1000, losing the first set 7-5 and the first two games of the second.

Berrettini, born in Rome, hadn't played at home since 2021. He returned in style to feel the affection of the Italian fans on center court in his debut, where he defeated Englishman Jacob Fearnley.

However, after playing doubles on Sunday with his brother Jacopo, in a match that he lost to his compatriots Lorenzo Sonego and Lorenzo Musetti, he was forced to retire due to muscle discomfort in the third round of the main draw against Ruud.

He did so in the second game of the second set, after a tremendously disputed initial set that was decided with a break from Ruud that avoided a tie-break .

The Italian withdrew from the Madrid tournament just two weeks ago, in the same round, due to abdominal discomfort, which he confirmed was the reason for his withdrawal in Italy.

"When I woke up yesterday I realized things were difficult , then the love for this tournament, for the city, and my brother (doubles partner) pushed me to try until the end. Today until ten minutes before the match I thought I couldn't do it, but I was surprised by how my body reacted until I felt another pang and I could no longer continue in the match," he explained in a press conference.

I don't know what's wrong with my muscles.

"I didn't want to retire, but then I know what happens if I continue: I have to be sick for three months, and I don't feel like it. I hope I stopped in time; I don't think I've destroyed myself . I don't know what's wrong with my abdominal oblique muscles," he concluded.