Matteo Berrettini joins hands with Rafael Nadal’s former coach Francisco Roig after split with Vincenzo Santopadre

Matteo Berrettini had a below-par season in 2023.

Matteo Berrettini joins hands with Rafael Nadal’s former coach Francisco Roig after split with Vincenzo Santopadre

Matteo Berrettini, Francisco Roig and Rafael Nadal (Images via Hello Lagazine, X)

Italian tennis ace Matteo Berrettini has chosen Rafael Nadal’s former coach Francisco Roig as his new coach after the World No.92 parted ways with Vincenzo Santopadre. Berrettni has been training with Roig in Monte Carlo, and the Spaniard is expected to accompany him to Brisbane and then Melbourne.

After a 13-year-long stint with Santopadre came to an end a few days back, Thomas Enqvist, 49 years old and former No. 4 was expected to take over the job. However, as it turns out, Roig has accepted Berrettini’s offer to coach the Italian.

Although the Italian has not officially announced Francisco’s onboarding, the reporters in local media claim that Roig has already taken charge. According to Ubitennis, the Spaniard is currently working with Berrettini at Monte Carlo. The pair will then travel to Brisbane where Berrettini will open his season at the Brisbane International.

Speaking of Roig’s coaching experience, the former Spanish player has worked with Rafael Nadal for almost eighteen years. From 2005 to 2022, he was part of Rafael Nadal’s team, first alongside Uncle Toni and then Carlos Moya.

Matteo Berrettini looking for a change in fortunes with a change in coaching team

Berrettini did not have a good season by his standards, as the 27-year-old Italian could play only 23 matches in the entire season. Out of the 23 played, Berrettini could manage to win only 12. Along with not being able to perform to the standards, Berrettini also struggled with injuries.

Matteo-Berrettini
Matteo Berrettini (Image via Town and Country Magazine)

The Italian has to pull out of the remainder of the season after the 2023 US Open, where he retired after hurting his ankle. Berrettini said that he does not want to risk anything and to prolong his career, he will be skipping the rest of the season on the advice of his physios. He also promised to return healthy and fully fit.

Despite training at a high level for a few weeks, my medical team has advised it would be a risk to compete in the final tournaments of the ATP season. It has been very difficult to accept this but I need to do what is best for next season and my long-term career. I will take this opportunity to reset, re-build, and start the year fully fit and healthy.
Matteo Berrettini wrote on his Instagram.

Now that the Italian is fit and healthy, he has hit the court and will be eyeing a change in fortunes in the new season. Francisco Roig will have a role to play in rejuvenating the World No.92 and helping him win a few titles in 2024.

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