Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist, has announced that he will not be participating in the 2024 French Open, citing his ongoing recovery from injuries. Despite making significant strides in his training, Berrettini and his team determined that he is not yet ready for the demands of five-set matches on clay courts.
This decision marks his third consecutive absence from Roland Garros, as he also missed the tournament in 2022 and 2023 due to similar fitness issues【44†source】【47†source】.
Berrettini’s withdrawal comes after a mixed start to the 2024 season. He made a promising return by winning an ATP 250 title in Marrakech, which was his first tour victory in almost two years. However, his momentum was short-lived as he was defeated in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters shortly thereafter. Following this setback, Berrettini decided to skip further tournaments in Madrid and Rome to focus on his recovery【44†source】【45†source】.
The Italian’s decision to forego the French Open appears to be a strategic move aimed at ensuring his fitness for the upcoming grass-court season, where he has historically performed well. Berrettini has expressed his intention to return to competitive play on grass, looking forward to events such as the Queen’s Club Championships and Wimbledon, where he has previously enjoyed considerable success【45†source】【46†source】.
Berrettini’s career has been frequently interrupted by injuries, which have significantly impacted his ranking. Once ranked as high as No. 6 in the world, he has now dropped to 96th. His fans and the tennis community are hopeful that he will regain his form on his favored grass courts, which have been the scene of some of his most notable achievements, including a runner-up finish at Wimbledon and multiple titles at Queen’s and Stuttgart【44†source】【47†source】.
In addition to Berrettini, several other high-profile players have also withdrawn from this year’s French Open, including WTA world No. 5 Jessica Pegula and former finalist Karolina Muchova, due to various injuries and health concerns【46†source】. This year’s tournament will thus miss some of its prominent contenders, making way for new stories and potential upsets as it progresses.
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