Would you like to learn some interesting facts about Matteo Berrettini? Join us as we uncover juicy details about the sensational Italian tennis player, so keep reading along.
Matteo Berrettini was born on the 12th of April 1996 in Rome, Italy. He is the eldest child of the amazing parents Claudia Bigo and Luca Berrettini. His younger brother is Jacopo. He has won various titles in the tennis world and continues to climb the ATP rankings, with hopes of winning a Grand Slam.
From ATP Tours to the Grand Slam, Matteo Berrettini always tries his best in every game. And, just like many tennis players, he is also a resident of Monte Carlo, in Monaco.
But before we go any further, let’s start counting all the most interesting things to know about Matteo Berrettini, one of the most popular Italian athletes today.
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18 Interesting Facts About Matteo Berrettini
Here is a list of interesting facts about Matteo Berrettini.
1. Matteo Berrettini’s nickname is “The Hammer”
During ATP Tours, spectators around the world witness the power and strength of Matteo Berrettini’s forehand. His hard-hitting forehand smash during his tournaments is so famous that he was given the nickname “The Hammer.”
Alongside other professional tennis players who have fond nicknames, there was a time when Matteo and Stefano Tsitsipas trained together in their residence, Monte Carlo. Tsitsipas humorously called themselves ‘”The Avengers” Thor and Loki. Matteo, referred to as Thor, fits his nickname perfectly, given his powerful forehand – The Hammer.
Embracing the idea of being Thor, Matteo even posted a picture on Instagram featuring him with a replica of Mjolnir.
2. Berrettini has Brazilian blood
Although born in Italy, Matteo Berrettini has Brazilian blood in his system. His father is of pure Italian descent, but his mother is not. That’s because his grandmother on the maternal side was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her name is Lucia Fogaça.
In fact, Matteo is spoiled by his granny, just like almost all grandmothers do. She would often tell him that he is the most handsome guy on the planet.
3. Matteo Berrettini’s whole family plays tennis
Although Matteo Berrettini has mixed Italian and Brazilian heritage, pure tennis passion runs in their family. From his grandparents to his parents and his younger brother, all of them are tennis players.
In fact, both brothers spent most of their time growing up in a tennis club, enjoying their younger days playing tennis, just like their parents. For a family-oriented man at a young age, Matteo Berrettini is definitely on the right track.
4. His father was once a professional tennis player
Matteo Berrettini follows in his father’s footsteps as Luca Berrettini was once a professional tennis player, too. He has always been a part of Matteo’s journey in the tennis world. He’s been hands-on in his son’s career, making decisions about coaching staff and supporting him even during tough times due to injuries.
Despite his old age, Matteo’s father has always been there to support him.
5. His mother used to play tennis for tennis clubs
The woman behind Matteo and his brother as they grew up in a tennis club is his mother, Claudia Bigo, who is also a former tennis club player. It seems that the love story of Matteo’s parents blossomed around the tennis court and later led them to tie the knot.
As devoted parents, Claudia and her husband, Luca, can often be seen on the sidelines, supporting Matteo in his endeavors during games, especially for major title competitions.
6. Matteo’s brother is also a professional tennis player
The duo of brothers, Matteo and Jacopo, began their tennis journey at a very young age. With tennis in their blood and ever-supportive parents, both ended up in the same profession. Although Matteo excels in singles, their brotherly bond is so strong that they have even played together as partners in various tennis doubles events.
7. Matteo Berretti started his professional career in 2015
Growing up in a family of tennis enthusiasts, Matteo Berrettini turned professional in 2015. Since then, he has been striving to excel in major tournaments and achieved his first title at the Swiss Open in 2018. He is even regarded as the only Italian to have been included in the Top 10 ATP year-end rankings twice.
8. He idolized Roger Federer
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Ever since, Matteo Berrettini has idolized Roger Federer. He looks up to him and follows his every game. He even cried when his idol lost games in important tournaments. And he was lucky enough to play face to face against the man he looks up to in the 2019 Wimbledon game.
Although he lost against the legend in a set of three, having played with his idol is already something he is truly grateful for.
9. Berrettini became the first Italian male professional tennis player to reach four major Grand Slam Finals
Berrettini has proven that his best games come on grass courts, as he won 11 straight matches on them. In 2021, he reached the finals at Wimbledon and became the first Italian male professional tennis player to reach four major Grand Slam finals.
With his determination, continuous training, and the strong support system provided by his family, there is nothing impossible for this Italian man.
10. He is an aggressive all-court player
Matteo Berrettini is considered an aggressive all-court player, and this may be attributed to his height, which is 6 feet 5 inches. His serves are considered some of the fastest, with a recorded speed of up to 235 kph (146 mph). His forehand’s notable power, speed, and spin have earned him the nickname “The Hammer.”
Although many say he performs best on grass surfaces, Matteo Berrettini’s evident aggressiveness also serves him well on hard courts. It’s no wonder he is so famous and has received numerous praises as he continues to work his way to the top.
11. His coach since the very beginning has been Vincenzo Santopadre
At the age of 9, Matteo Berrettini’s coach was the ATP tennis player himself, Vincenzo Santopadre. Santopadre was with him as he developed his tennis skills and had training in a club in Rome until Matteo fully matured and entered his professional tennis career.
His trust in Santopadre is so profound that he has never changed coaches since.
12. Matteo Berrettini has a compass rose lucky charm, which he had permamently inked onto his skin
Having very close family ties is something admirable about Matteo Berrettini. His mother, Claudia, gave him a compass rose pendant that he would wear on benches during his games. Later on, to ensure that this rose compass would never be lost and wouldn’t need to be taken off during plays, he had it tattooed on his inner right arm.
For Berrettini, the compass rose tattoo and pendant are symbols of his ever-supportive and loving family – his compass, guiding him as a companion, especially when he feels lost.
13. Berrettini is a fan of football and basketball
Matteo Berrettini must be so fond of sports that, aside from tennis, he is also a football enthusiast and a basketball fan. His favorite team is the purple team, ACF Fiorentina of Serie A, an Italian football team.
In basketball, he looks up to LeBron James not only for how he plays every basketball game but also for how the famous basketball player behaves outside the court, especially his philanthropic endeavors.
14. He has been in the major film documentary One Extraordinary Year
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on people from various backgrounds and lifestyles. A documentary film called One Extraordinary Year was created, starring international and professional athletes as they battled the pandemic. This included Matteo Berrettini.
Imagine how these pros’ training and daily routines were suddenly halted and how they coped with problems that arose because their movements outside their homes were very limited.
15. He withdrew from participating in Wimbledon 2022 because he tested positive for COVID
It was a major disappointment for Matteo Berrettini and his fellow pro, Croatian tennis player Marin Čilić, to withdraw from participation in the 2022 Wimbledon because they both tested positive for COVID-19.
While Matteo aimed to achieve higher results at Wimbledon, where he reached his first Grand Slam in 2021, COVID-19 had prevented him from doing so.
What’s admirable about this Italian tennis player was his concern for his fellow competitors and the people around who might watch the game and possibly get infected with the virus if he insisted on participating, given that his symptoms were only mild.
For someone who trains so hard to reach the top, sacrificing a major tournament for the welfare of his peers is truly commendable. Salute to Matteo Berrettini!
16. He is fond of animals
Matteo’s grandmother, Lucia, is the witness to how fond he is of animals. In his childhood, he would watch animal documentaries and felt a special connection with them. His granny would even tell him he could be a biologist.
If given the chance and if he had not become a pro in tennis, he could be working in an animal-related job, but only if he had enough passion for it.
17. He is the first tennis player to model for the famous Hugo Boss brand
Matteo Berrettini is not only a famous Italian pro tennis player but also the first Italian tennis player to model for the equally famous Hugo Boss brand.
18. He is interested in entertainment-related activities
Due to his fondness for watching animal documentaries since childhood, Matteo Berrettini is quite an entertainment enthusiast.
He loves cinema, ranging from Stanley Kubrick and Italian director Sergio Leone to Quentin Tarantino. His favorite Netflix shows include The Punisher, Dexter, and Stranger Things.
In music, he enjoys a variety of genres, but his favorite American rapper is Eminem. While history is his favorite school subject, he is also an avid reader, with Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls and the works of Charles Bukowski being his favorites.