Just weeks before the Davis Cup starts, Matteo Berrettini has spoken out about his decision to break up with Rafael Nadal’s former coach, Francisco Roig.
Since December 2023, Roig had been collaborating with the influential Italian. However, the 28-year-old said last week that they had split up after ten months of dating.
In a social media post on Monday, Berrettini declared that he had ended his coaching contract with Roig, 56, who had previously coached Nadal for 17 years, until 2022.
On his Instagram Story, Berrettini posted, “I wanted to let you know that Francisco Roig and I have decided to end our professional relationship.” “I can’t express enough gratitude to him for his efforts this year, his commitment, and the outcomes we’ve produced together.
I was able to develop greatly during that professional experience, both on and off the court. I extend him my warmest regards and best wishes for the future. Thank you.
The Wimbledon 2021 champion is attempting to qualify for Italy’s Davis Cup team in Malaga. Some are upset about Roig’s departure since Berrettini is now without a coach before an intense program that begins this week at the Paris Masters and lasts until the end of 2024.
The 28-year-old clarified, however, that he amicably terminated his business relationship with Roig after both parties acknowledged that their opinions on how to proceed did not coincide.
“It was a shared decision, but it was not an easy one,” Berrettini said to Sky Sport Italy. “Francisco guided me toward progress and a comeback, although our perspectives were different.
We had a year full of accomplishments, therefore I thank him for his professional decision. Let’s hope for greater things in the future as we turn the page.
Following a damaged oblique muscle earlier in the year and a ruptured ankle ligament at the 2023 US Open, Berrettini has had a difficult time in his tennis career.
The Monaco-born player has risen back inside the top 50 after surpassing the 40-win barrier for the season, but he dropped to 129th in the ATP rankings as a result.
At number 36 in the world, Berrettini is poised to earn a Grand Slam main draw seed. He is hoping to persuade Italy’s coach Filippo Volandri to include him in the Davis Cup together with Jannik Sinner and Flavio Cobolli.
“It would be the icing on the cake of this comeback season… Davis Cup is my goal, [my] dream,” he stated. But with a very deep roster and the world’s best player [Sinner], we [Italy] are spoiled for options.
“I will always be prepared for Italy, and it would be an immense honor if I were called up.”