Matteo Berrettini is currently not playing due to a diagnosis of chronic hip pain, which recently forced his withdrawal from the Generali Open and the ATP event in Gstaad.
The Italian star initially experienced severe discomfort during the 2026 French Open quarterfinals, leading to an emotional retirement in his match against Matteo Arnaldi.
While he briefly returned for Wimbledon, reaching the third round, his medical team advised a halt to his clay-court plans to focus on long-term rehabilitation.
This setback follows a grueling history where Berrettini has missed 8 of the last 18 Grand Slams due to persistent injuries.
Why Has Matteo Berrettini Not Been Playing Lately?
The 2026 season has been a cycle of physical frustration for the former Wimbledon finalist, characterized by a transition from acute muscle injuries to more complex, chronic conditions.
Fans have watched as his momentum is repeatedly halted by a body that seems to struggle with the high-intensity demands of the professional tour.
The 2026 Chronic Hip Pain Diagnosis
The most significant hurdle currently facing the Italian is a diagnosis of chronic hip pain, a condition that surfaced prominently during the European clay-court swing.
During his quarterfinal run at Roland-Garros, Berrettini began feeling severe discomfort while serving, an issue that eventually forced him to retire from the match in tears.
Although he attempted a comeback during the grass-court season at Wimbledon, the pain remained a persistent factor, hindering his ability to compete at the highest level.
Consequently, in consultation with his medical specialists, he decided to skip his scheduled July tournaments to prioritize a full recovery. This specialized hip rehab is designed to address the underlying causes of the pain rather than providing a temporary fix.
Early 2026 Struggles: Oblique Strains and Illness
Before the hip issues took center stage, Berrettini’s year began with other physical setbacks that signaled a difficult season ahead.
In January, he was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open just before his first-round match after experiencing significant discomfort in his oblique muscles.
This was a recurrence of an area that has plagued him for years, requiring core stability training and physical therapy to manage.
Furthermore, during the March hard-court swing at Indian Wells, his performance was compromised by a pre-tournament illness and severe mid-match cramping.
These combined factors have made the 2026 season one of his most interrupted periods to date, as he seeks to find a balance between competitive play and physical longevity.
A Comprehensive Matteo Berrettini Injury History
To understand the current state of Berrettini’s career, one must look at the extensive medical timeline that has defined his last several years. The following data highlights the frequency and variety of the ailments that have kept him off the court.
| Year | Primary Diagnosis | Key Tournaments Missed | Recovery Approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Abdominal and Thigh Tears | Australian Open (4th Rd), ATP Finals | Conservative PT & localized rest |
| 2022 | Hand Surgery & COVID-19 | French Open, Wimbledon | Post-surgical rehab & isolation |
| 2023 | Oblique & Grade 2 Ankle Tear | French Open, US Open, Rest of Season | Immobilization & ankle brace |
| 2025 | Right Oblique Recurrence | French Open, US Open | Targeted core stability training |
| 2026 | Oblique Strain & Chronic Hip Pain | Australian Open, Gstaad, Kitzbühel | Anti-inflammatories & hip rehab |
How Serious is the Italian Star’s Hip Condition?
The shift from acute injuries, such as muscle tears, to a chronic diagnosis represents a pivotal moment in Berrettini’s career management.
Chronic hip pain suggests a condition that requires a more holistic and long-term medical strategy than the “rest and return” protocols used for his previous abdominal issues.
From Acute Tears to Chronic Discomfort
Throughout his career, Berrettini has dealt with explosive, acute injuries, most notably the horrific right ankle rupture suffered during the 2023 US Open, which required him to leave the court in a wheelchair.
That injury led to seven months of intense immobilization and progressive footwork rehabilitation. However, the 2026 hip diagnosis is different because it involves lingering pain that does not simply disappear with a few weeks of rest.
This chronic nature implies that the joint or surrounding connective tissues are under repetitive stress, necessitating a change in how he trains and moves on the court.
The decision to stop playing in July was a proactive measure to prevent this chronic issue from becoming a career-threatening disability.
The Role of Specialized Hip Rehabilitation
Current medical efforts are focused on specialized hip rehabilitation to ensure Berrettini can return for the American hard-court tour at 100% health.
This process involves extensive medical testing to pinpoint the exact origin of the pain, followed by anti-inflammatory treatments to manage the current flare-up.
Unlike the oblique injuries of 2021 and 2025, which primarily required core strengthening, hip rehab often involves gait analysis and adjusting the biomechanics of his serve to reduce the load on the joint.
By choosing to skip smaller clay-court events like Kitzbühel, Berrettini is signaling a commitment to longevity over short-term ranking points, a necessary trade-off for an athlete who has already missed eight major championships since his 2021 Wimbledon final appearance.
Impact of Physical Ailments on Ranking and Performance
The frequent layoffs have prevented Berrettini from maintaining the consistency required to stay at the top of the ATP rankings. Every time he builds momentum, such as his quarterfinal run at Roland-Garros in 2026, a physical setback forces him into another period of inactivity.
Missing 8 of 18 Grand Slams Since 2021
The most startling statistic in Berrettini’s career is that he has been absent for nearly half of the Grand Slams held since his peak performance at Wimbledon in 2021.
These absences are not concentrated in one year but are spread across a five-year period, showing a persistent pattern of fragility.
In 2022 alone, he missed the entire European clay-court swing due to right hand surgery and was then forced to withdraw from Wimbledon on the very morning of his first match because of COVID-19.
These missed opportunities have a compounding effect, as they result in a lack of match rhythm and a drop in seeding, which in turn leads to tougher early-round draws when he does manage to return.
Maintaining Elite Competitive Levels Through Pain
Despite the constant medical hurdles, Berrettini has demonstrated an elite ability to perform even when not at full strength. His run to the French Open quarterfinals in 2026 was achieved while he was already managing the onset of hip discomfort.
Similarly, in 2023, he suffered an oblique muscle tear in April but still managed to fight through portions of the season before the devastating ankle injury in August.
This “warrior” mentality is a double-edged sword; while it allows him to remain a threat to top-tier opponents, it may also contribute to the “chronic” nature of his current hip issues by delaying necessary rest.
The goal for the remainder of 2026 is to break this cycle by returning only when his body can sustain the force of his signature “hammer” style of play.
Frequently Asked Questions About Berrettini’s Status
Why is Matteo Berrettini not playing in the July clay-court tournaments?
He is currently sidelined to rehab a chronic hip injury that first appeared during the 2026 French Open.
What was the result of Berrettini’s most recent Grand Slam appearance?
He reached the third round of Wimbledon 2026, where he eventually lost to Grigor Dimitrov while playing through hip discomfort.
How many Grand Slams has Berrettini missed due to injury?
Since reaching the Wimbledon final in 2021, he has missed 8 out of 18 Grand Slam tournaments.
What is the “chronic hip pain” diagnosis?
It is a persistent condition that causes severe discomfort during high-impact movements, specifically serving, necessitating anti-inflammatory treatment and specialized rehab.
When is Matteo Berrettini expected to return to the ATP tour?
His goal is to be 100% healthy for the upcoming American hard-court tour, which typically begins in August.
Has Berrettini ever had surgery?
Yes, he underwent urgent surgery on his right hand in March 2022, which caused him to miss the entire clay-court season that year.
Conclusion: The Future of the Italian Hammer
Matteo Berrettini remains one of the most formidable players in professional tennis, yet his career is increasingly defined by the battle between his immense talent and his physical limitations.
The transition to managing chronic hip pain marks a new chapter in his medical journey, one that requires patience and a strategic approach to scheduling.
By prioritizing a full recovery for the American hard-court season, Berrettini is attempting to end the cycle of mid-tournament retirements and late-stage withdrawals that have hampered his progress.
Whether his body will finally allow him a sustained period of health remains the biggest question in Italian tennis, but his commitment to rehabilitation shows he is not yet ready to let these injuries define his legacy.
