By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, May 25, 2026
Photo credit: Photo Agency/Getty
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Contesting his first Roland Garros match in five years made Matteo Berrettini even fiercer.
Former world No. 6 Berrettini made a triumphant French Open return today rallying past Marton Fucsovics 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.
Berrettini blasted 14 aces and saved six of seven break points in a three hour, nine minute victory.
“It’s pretty hot to be in Paris this time of the year, but I like these conditions,” Berrettini said. “I like when the ball is flying and it’s jumping like that, bouncing. I’m really happy to be here after 2021 was the
last time I played. So it was nice.
“I didn’t start in the right way. I had to find a little bit the right mindset, I would say. I really care about this
tournament in general. Every match that I’m playing, I’m trying to play my best. Sometimes this sport can be brutal, but I think I finished the match better than the way I started, which is a good sign.”
The 30-year-old Berrettini has reached the quarterfinals or better at all four Grand Slams, including his memorable run to the Roland Garros final eight in his last Roland Garros appearance back in 2021.
In recent years, Berrettini has suffered more injuries than a stuntman in an action flick. A right oblique and abdominal issue knocked Berrettini out of the 2025 Roland Garros and US Open.
So why does the 2021 Wimbledon finalist keep coming back from injury adversity?
It’s simple, Berrettini says he’s a bit bonkers when it comes to tennis. In fact, Berrettini describes his tennis DNA as big serve, big forehand, major injuries.
“Who knows me since I’ve been a kid knows that I’ve been getting injured since I was 12, basically,” Berrettini said. “It’s kind of like part of who I am. If I have a big serve, big forehand, I also have this issue. I also have a resilient mind, and I always work hard to come back. I just like to compete.
“I like to put myself in situations where, you know, most of the people would struggle a little bit and the tough forgets, the more I’m there. I’m just a little bit psycho, I think.”
Despite chronic injuries, Berrettini has produced some impressive moments on dirt in recent years, including upsetting 2024 French Open finalist Alexander Zverev in Monte-Carlo last year then dropping a double-bagel bomb on Daniil Medvedev at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters last month.
Next up for Berrettini is 22nd-seeded Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who won their lone prior meeting at the 2022 US Open when the Italian retired with injury.
Injury-induced inactivity has dropped Berrettini’s ranking to No. 105, which means he’s not on the entry list for Wimbledon, site of his lone Grand Slam final. Berrettini says he’s not expecting a Wimbledon wild card and will play the qualifying tournament for entry into the grass-court Grand Slam.
“I don’t know if [my agent is] going to ask for a wild card, but I don’t think they’re going to give me a wild card anyways,” Berrettini said of Wimbledon. “We’ll see. I mean, if I get in, I get in. Otherwise, I’ll play
the quallies. I know the level that I have. I know that, you know, I’ve been in worse situations in terms of
ranking. Of course, Wimbledon is one of my favorite tournaments.
“Last year I was seeded in Wimbledon, and I couldn’t really compete in the way I wanted to. So for me it’s
more important the way I’m competing than what I’m competing for.”
For now, Berrettini is enjoying his Parisian return and the first steps toward an eventual Top 20 return.
“Of course, if you ask me, do you want to get back on top 20, of course, I would like to do that, but I know that in order to do that, there is a process before that,” Berrettini said. “So now we are in Paris. Like I said, it’s been five years that I don’t play here, so I’m enjoying my time here, the atmosphere. Even the small court, it was something that didn’t happen in a long time.”