Matteo Berrettini tests COVID-19 positive, pulls out of 2022 Wimbledon
Italy's Matteo Berrettini, the runner-up of the 2021 Wimbledon, has pulled out of the ongoing Championships after testing COVID-19 positive. He is the second player to withdraw from the grass-court major after Croatia's Marin Cilic. The former confirmed the same through a heartfelt note on Instagram. Berrettini, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2021 final, was supposed to face Cristian Garín (first round).
Earlier on Tuesday, former finalist Marin Cilic pulled out of Wimbledon after returning a positive result (COVID-19). "I have been self-isolating and was hopeful I would be ready but unfortunately I am still feeling unwell. I am heartbroken to be missing Wimbledon," Cilic wrote on Instagram. Cilic, who was the runner-up at 2017 Wimbledon, was supposed to face Mackenzie McDonald in the first round.
Earlier in June, Berrettini defeated Filip Krajinovic 7-5, 6-2 to win the 2022 Queen's Club Championships final. It was the Italian's second successive trophy as he had earlier beaten Andy Murray to win the Stuttgart Open. Notably, Berrettini captured his seventh tour-level trophy and fourth on grass. He dominated Krajinovic throughout the final and served 14 aces.
Berrettini won five matches at the 2022 Queen's Club Championships and four at the Stuttgart Open. As per Opta, Berrettini is the player with the most matches won (32), titles (4), and finals (5) on the ATP Tour on grass since 2019.
Berrettini has now won his last nine matches and lifted two trophies since returning recently. As per ATP, he has extended his record on grass to 32-6. Berrettini has now won 20 of his past 21 matches on the surface. The Italian now owns seven ATP titles in his career. He has a win-loss record of 18-6 in 2022.
