Tokyo 2020: Matteo Berrettini pulls out of Olympics due to thigh injury

Italian star Matteo Berrettini has become the latest famous tennis player to withdraw from the Olympic Games in Tokyo after a hip injury at the beginning of the season. Berrettini has been in great form since reaching the Wimbledon final earlier this month.

The world number eight Berrettini joins Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Stan Wawrinka and Simona Halep have also decided to skip the Tokyo 2020 Games due to various injury concerns.

“I am extremely disappointed to announce my withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympic Games,” the 25-year-old said on Instagram.

“I had an MRI scan yesterday on the thigh injury I sustained during Wimbledon and was informed I will not be able to compete for a couple of weeks.”

The Italian National Olympic Committee said they would not be able to get a replacement player for Berrettini as the International Tennis Federation’s deadline to name new athletes had passed on Friday.

“Representing Italy is the biggest honour for me so it is devastating to miss the Olympics,” Berrettini added.

Serbian legend Novak Djokovic, who beat Berrettini in the Wimbledon 2021 final, is also pondering over his options of competing at the Olympics this year, which has already been plagued by Covid-19 after 2 confirmed cases in the South African football team emerged inside the Games Village.

Djokovic, who will miss out on the chance to complete a Golden Slam if he misses the Summer Games, has said that he isn’t sure of his participation in Tokyo.

“I’ll have to think about it. My plan was always to go to Olympic Games. But right now I’m a little bit divided. It’s kind of 50-50 because of what I heard in the last couple days,” Djokovic had said after winning his 6th Wimbledon and record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title last week.