Berrettini out of Wimbledon with Covid
LONDON: Eighth seed Matteo Berrettini, runner-up at last year’s Wimbledon, yesterday became the second top player to pull out of the 2022 championships after testing positive for Covid-19.
The 26-year-old Italian, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2021 final, withdrew from this year’s grasscourt Grand Slam due to the coronavirus a day after Croatian Marin Cilic, the 2017 runnerup, was forced to pull out.
“I am heartbroken to announce that I need to withdraw from @wimbledon due to a positive Covid-19 test result,” Berrettini said on Instagram hours before his first-round match against Chile’s Cristian Garin.
“I have had flu symptoms and been isolating the last few days. Despite symptoms not being severe, I decided it was important to take another test this morning to protect the health and safety of my fellow competitors and everyone else involved in the tournament.”
Berrettini was seen as a leading contender to win this year’s tournament after he claimed back-to-back titles in tune-up events on grass at Stuttgart and Queen’s Club.
“I have no words to describe the extreme disappointment I feel,” the Italian said.
“The dream is over for this year, but I will be back stronger.”
Sweden’s Elias Ymer replaced Berrettini in the men’s draw, organisers said.
The pandemic forced organisers to cancel the 2020 Wimbledon tournament but no Covid-19 restrictions are in place this year and vaccination is not mandatory for players to participate.
The All England Club has also welcomed back full capacity crowds.
It said in a statement that protocols remained in place to minimise the risk of infection.
“We are following UK guidance around assessment and isolation of any potential infectious disease,” the statement said.
“Our player medical team also continue to wear face masks for any consultation.”
In the women’s singles first round yesterday, fifth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece defeated Zoe Hives of Australia 6-1, 6-4.
Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko from Latvia beat Oceane Dodin of France 6-4, 6-4.
On Monday, defending men’s champion Djokovic dropped a set on the way to the second round and did not look like the “Mr Consistency” who has become the first player to win 80 singles matches in each of the Grand Slam tournaments.
But his opponents know that once the Serbian finds his 2022 grass legs, they will more than likely follow firstround victim Kwon Soo-Woo out of the event.
Djokovic had played no competitive tennis on grass coming into the tournament and ground out a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory against the lively South Korean.
“I did not start or did not play at my best but I think when I needed to find the right shots, I did,” Djokovic said.
“I know I can do better.”