Matteo Berrettini Slams Commentator’s Reaction to Holger Rune Injury

Matteo Berrettini has fired back at a tennis commentator who suggested that Holger Rune’s devastating injury might actually be good for him in the long run.

And the Italian’s response was pretty heated.

The Injury That Shocked Tennis

Rune was fighting to keep his slim hopes alive for the 2025 ATP Finals when disaster struck. He was playing Ugo Humbert in the Stockholm Open semifinals, having just won the first set.

The score was 2-2 in the second set when everything changed.

During a regular rally, the 22-year-old Dane suddenly pulled up and started limping. After talking with a physiotherapist, Rune began crying and had to retire from the match.

It was heartbreaking to watch. He needed two people to help him off the court while Swedish fans applauded in support.

The news got worse from there. Rune revealed he’d suffered a severe Achilles tendon injury that required surgery. We’re talking about a career-altering setback here – he could be out for more than a year depending on how his recovery goes.

Players Call for Change

Most of Rune’s fellow players responded with sympathy and calls for tennis to fix its brutal schedule. Taylor Fritz was especially vocal, saying players won’t have long careers unless something changes about the demanding tour calendar.

But Eurosport commentator Jacopo Lo Monaco had a very different take.

On the Schiafflo al volo podcast, he argued that this devastating injury could actually be positive for Rune’s career.

"Considering Rune’s seasons, it’s now three, since the success in Bercy in 2022, where he beat everyone, including Djokovic in the final. Almost three full years. He was now in a situation of limbo because instead of growing, he was initially more stationary, and this was a negative season."

The commentator continued his controversial take:

"He’s dropped in the world rankings compared to last year, and even more compared to two years ago. So, he’s taking it the right way; maybe it’s the best thing that could have happened to him."

Lo Monaco suggested the injury would force Rune to reflect on his career and take better care of his body.

"Because when you’re young, you think your career is endless, ‘I have so many years ahead of me.’ An injury like this makes you realize that even your body is fallible."

Berrettini Explodes

Those comments didn’t sit well with Berrettini at all.

The 2021 Wimbledon finalist took to social media and absolutely unloaded on the commentator. His anger was pretty clear from the start.

"Guys, I understand everything, but this stuff is truly horrifying… To think that an injury of this magnitude could be the best thing that could happen to a 22-year-old player, the 11th in the world, means either being in bad faith or understanding very little about this sport and sport in general."

Berrettini knows what he’s talking about here – he’s dealt with plenty of injury problems himself over the years.

The Italian explained that real growth comes from playing matches, not from being sidelined:

"Maturation, whether competitive or not, comes with time, with defeats, with victories, with matches lost on match points or even won while playing poorly. This is an injury that can radically change a person’s life, let alone a career at this level."

But Berrettini wasn’t done. He called the commentator’s approach "bordering on madness."

"I always listen and almost never comment, but this is bordering on madness."

The Human Side

What really seemed to bother Berrettini was the lack of compassion in how the injury was discussed.

He was particularly upset about the casual way Lo Monaco described the injury:

"I understand wanting to speak up, to have your say, always, in any case, but hearing someone say ‘the tendon popped’ without a shred of compassion or sensitivity, as if we were talking about a balloon to pop on a ride, gives me the shivers."

Berrettini’s personal experience with injuries clearly shaped his passionate response. The 28-year-old has missed significant time due to various physical problems throughout his career.

He painted a picture of what players really go through during major injuries:

"Behind that injury, there was suffering, both mental and physical, doubts, and moments so dark that they could compromise the mental health of a very young boy."

The Italian continued with obvious emotion:

"Maybe I can relate to it, maybe I know what it means to see certain things slip away without even having the chance to try to stop them, maybe I know how hard it is to come back from an injury."

A Bigger Problem

Berrettini used this incident to call out what he sees as a problem with sports culture in Italy.

He thinks there’s an issue with how injuries and player welfare are discussed in the media.

"I could be wrong, but I believe that the necessary change in Italian sports culture also comes from here, from how things are reported and how certain topics are analyzed."

His final point was pretty clear: putting potential results ahead of a player’s health is just wrong.

"Putting a player’s potential results ahead of his health, I don’t think is the right way to look at and comment on sport."

The whole controversy highlights how differently people view player injuries. While some see them as opportunities for reflection or growth, players like Berrettini – who’ve lived through them – know the real cost goes way beyond just missing matches.

For Rune, the focus now is simply on recovery and hopefully returning to the court stronger than before. At 22, he’s got plenty of time to bounce back, but as Berrettini made clear, suggesting this injury is somehow good for him is pretty tone-deaf.