‘So Tired of It’ – Matteo Berrettini Laments the ‘Worst Feeling’ As He Explains Mid-Match French Open Retirement

Matteo Berrettini’s quest to win his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2026 French Open ended in heartbreaking fashion when he was forced to retire from his quarterfinal clash against fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi. Berrettini later opened up about how he arrived at the difficult decision to stop and shed light on the injury that dashed his title hopes.

Matteo Berrettini Opens Up on Heartbreaking French Open Retirement and Hip Injury

Berrettini looked sharp at the start of his highly anticipated quarterfinal clash, as he rushed to a 3-0 lead after securing a double break. However, the 30-year-old began experiencing discomfort in his left hip during the opening set, which hampered his movement and allowed Arnaldi to battle back and clinch the first set.

Trailing 1-2 in the second, Berrettini went for an off-court medical timeout, but he continued to struggle on his return. Despite being urged to retire by his coaching team, he valiantly attempted to continue before ending the match, with Arnaldi leading 7-5, 5-2.

Speaking to the press afterward, Berrettini revealed that despite his efforts to push through the injury, his condition only worsened as the match went on.

“In the middle of the first set, I started to feel something when I was serving, but I was competing. The match was very tough, and I just didn’t really think much of it. I just kept going and I tried to do my best. It was a really tough task today, but then the more that I was playing, the more I was serving, the more I was hitting forehands, the worse I was feeling,” he said.

MORE:All About Matteo Berrettini’s Girlfriend and Matteo Arnaldi’s Fiancee Ahead of Their French Open Quarterfinal

The Italian said he was deeply disappointed, but he ultimately had no choice but to retire, as the pain became too severe and there was a risk of exacerbating the injury further.

“They told me that the area was really sore and really painful. So I just tried, but then the pain was too much, and I hope that I didn’t do any serious damage. I just have to wait and see in the next days for the scans and everything to see what it is. Hopefully it’s nothing too bad. I’m obviously disappointed, but I think if I kept playing, I would have done way worse and probably the recovery time would have been longer. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any other choices than retire,” Berrettini said.

Although he has dealt with hip issues in the past, Berrettini explained that he had never experienced such discomfort, saying:

“It’s definitely the hip. I don’t know exactly what it is. Hopefully the scans are going to be clear, you know, and they can tell me what I have. I never had anything like that. I struggled with my right hip in the end of 2019, beginning of 2020, but was different kind of pain.”

The 30-year-old also made an honest admission about being tired of retiring from matches, describing it as the “worst feeling ever.”

“I’m the last one that wants to retire. I’m so tired of it. I just don’t want to do it, but sometimes you have to do it. A lot of players have done it in the past, and it’s the worst feeling ever, but it’s the right thing to do, because it’s not the last tournament I’m going to play in my life, and I have to think about my future. I have to think about my recovery,” he said.

MORE:‘I’m Going To Call the Director’ – Jakub Menšík and His Team’s Tense Dispute With French Open Staff Emerges

Matteo Berrettini will now focus on recovering in time for the upcoming grass-court season. Meanwhile, Matteo Arnaldi is gearing up for a blockbuster semifinal clash against compatriot Flavio Cobolli, who defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the final four.