"My brother would choose Novak Djokovic, and I always Roger Federer" - Matteo Berrettini pens heartfelt love message to tennis

Matteo Berrettini penned a heartfelt love message to tennis, sharing that while his brother, Jacopo, would choose Novak Djokovic as his favorite, he had always been a fan of Roger Federer. He also expressed how tennis has truly been the love of his life.

On Wednesday, December 11, Berrettini penned his love for tennis in an interview with ATP Tour. The clip was posted on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the organization, with the caption following:

"I felt like you were the love of my life"❤️....This is @MattBerrettini's love letter to tennis💌"

Berrettini opened up about how tennis had been a ‘challenge’ for him, but that was also the reason behind his deep love for the sport. He first picked up a racket at the age of three, and even at 28, his love for the sport remained as strong as ever.

“I felt like you were the love of my life, that you were challenging—and you are challenging—but that's probably why I like you so much, dear tennis. My whole family introduced me to you; you were something that was running in our blood. The first thing they did was give me a tennis racket when I was three,” the Italian said.

Matteo Berrettini also reminisced about how his brother, Jacopo, got him back into tennis when he was eight after he had stopped playing as a child. It made him nostalgic, recalling how they would play with makeshift rackets and balloons.

He said:

“I remember I didn’t like you, tennis, so I stopped playing. I started playing again when I was eight because my younger brother told me to come back, saying it would be fun. My brother would always choose Djokovic, and I would always choose Roger. We would play for hours in the house with balloons, with makeshift rackets—it didn’t matter. We were just having fun.”

The former Wimbledon finalist continued:

“So, we didn’t start in the right way, but luckily, we were able to change that. Now, I’m enjoying you fully.”

"You've taught me things in the hard way sometimes but that's why I'm here" - Matteo Berrettini to tennis

Matteo Berrettini | Image Source: Getty

Berrettini expressed his gratitude to tennis for teaching him valuable lessons the hard way, a journey he feels was truly worthwhile. As he won titles and reached a Grand Slam final, tennis taught him resilience, made him a fighter, and helped him trust his team.

He said:

“You’ve taught me things in the hard way sometimes, but that’s why I’m here. I think everything “bad,” if you can call it bad, that happened was really worth it, because it brought me here—to enjoy you to the fullest. Quite a few titles, reaching the finals in Grand Slams, playing the finals in London—you’ve taught me to be resilient, to keep fighting, to trust the people I’m working with.”

Berrettini also mentioned that it wasn't just about the sport or winning titles; it was about the people you meet along the way and the friends who become like family. He expressed how fortunate he felt to have met individuals who helped him transform his life, both on and off the court.

“It’s not only about the sport, but also about the chance to meet people, create friends, and almost family members. I’ve had the fortune to meet people who have changed my life, both on and off the court.”

“I think after all these years, I’ve gained quite a bit of knowledge about you. Now, it would be cool to see what’s next for us."

Berrettini had a challenging season, dealing with multiple injuries, and even had to withdraw from the 2024 Australian Open. However, despite these setbacks, he managed to secure three titles in Gstaad, Switzerland, and Kitzbühel. He capped off his season by leading his team to victory in the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain.