Editor’s Note: This article was translated from ATPTour.com/es.
A tennis participant’s most feared adversary is maybe one which by no means wields a racquet. Injuries are essentially the most unpredictable blight any sportsman can endure all through his profession, and Matteo Berrettini has not too long ago had first-hand expertise of them.
In 2022, the Italian underwent wrist surgical procedure, fought COVID-19 and recovered from an issue together with his left foot. Berrettini was sidelined from the ATP Tour for a number of months.
However, the present No. 14 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings has been working laborious to return this season with a vengeance. One of the professionals that has helped him together with his restoration, physiotherapist Ramon Punzano, revealed to ATPTour.com particulars of the final 12 months, his relationship with Berrettini, and the strengths which have made him top-of-the-line gamers on the planet.
Ramon Punzano (far proper) celebrates with Team Italy on the 2023 United Cup. Credit: Tennis Australia
“Players concern not having the ability to return to their earlier degree. It generates a slight air of pressure, concern, it’s not an optimistic atmosphere, that’s regular,” defined Punzano. “From a private {and professional} viewpoint, you’re attempting to convey calm to the state of affairs, you attempt to be as constructive as attainable in moments of adversity.”
Early in 2022, Berrettini arrived in Melbourne and romped to the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Following that run, he reached a career-high No. 6 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. When the Italian was within the type of his life, a wrist harm compelled him to go below the knife, shortly after Indian Wells in March.
“It was a tricky blow,” Punzano admitted. “The restoration was higher than anticipated and even I used to be a little bit shocked at how we progressed so shortly, however the harm dictates how shortly you’ll be able to go. You must take heed to it, and if it helps you to, you need to speed up as shortly as attainable.”
The Italian and his group shifted their sights to the grass-court swing. In 2021, he was a finalist at Wimbledon (l. Novak Djokovic), which means he must defend a big haul of factors this previous summer season. The Boss Open, which is held in Stuttgart, Germany, staged Berrettini’s return to the courtroom in June.
“We managed a superb begin to the grass swing. In Stuttgart he received, and in addition at Queen’s. We had been very assured of doing properly at Wimbledon, just like the earlier 12 months, however COVID-19 sidelined him,” Punzano stated. “In September he picked up a foot drawback, which meant he missed a number of tournaments and was unable to play till the doubles within the Davis Cup Finals.”
Despite reaching the ultimate in Gstaad and the quarter-finals on the US Open, the dearth of continuity ruined an incredible season for Berrettini, each time he was in a position to take to the courtroom. “It was a bittersweet season, with some nice moments and different very robust ones. Of the years I’ve been with Matteo, it was essentially the most troublesome. It was very up and down,” Punzano stated.
Punzano joined the Italian’s group on the finish of 2019. The Valencian specialist had beforehand labored with ATP stars corresponding to Juan Carlos Ferrero, David Ferrer, Pablo Andujar and in addition as a physio on the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, the previous Valencia Open, and the Davis Cup Finals.
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In greater than three years of working collectively, the Spaniard has had loads of time to get to know top-of-the-line gamers on the ATP Tour throughout that point. What has shocked him most about Berrettini?
“In phrases of sport, having seen and labored with all types of gamers, Matteo has one thing that characterises the greats a profitable mentality,” Punzano answered with out hesitation. “Believing that he can win any match, that he has the weapons to beat any opponent and to essentially really feel that inside.”
Off the courtroom, Berrettini has a sequence of virtues that, indirectly, additionally assist him to be stronger with a racquet in hand. “He’s a reasonably empathetic individual,” defined Punzano. “He is all the time pondering of others. He understands that if we’re all completely satisfied and cozy in our work, it is going to make us give our all for him.
“He’s additionally a humble man. He accepts the opinions and criticisms of the members of the group with the intention to attempt to hold enhancing. He doesn’t assume he’s all the time proper, he has an incredible capability for reasoning. He likes and wishes to grasp why he does issues, what the rationale and standards are for engaged on a sure factor. When he understands it and considers that he must work another way, he accepts that.”
Matteo Berrettini greets followers in Brisbane on the 2023 United Cup. Credit: Tennis Australia
Those virtues have been elementary in coping with the age-old foe of accidents.“Thanks to that humility and psychological energy, we’ve been in a position to deal with it in addition to attainable,” Punzano stated. “Even although it’s not good for anybody. For the participant or the employees. They are robust moments by which you need to do quite a lot of work behind the scenes with the uncertainty of accidents.”
Punzano has offered one of many lifelines that the Italian has clung onto with the intention to keep afloat in stormy waters. “When an incredible participant is injured they usually know they may miss a sure variety of weeks, in fact initially they’re in a state of pseudo-depression,” Punzano stated.
“You must attempt to assist them via that state of affairs, clarify to them how issues will progress, assist them perceive the issue. That relieves their anxiousness they usually begin to see the longer term with extra optimism,” Punzano revealed. “But you need to get your head down and work laborious, as a result of there’s no one to reward you. There aren’t any spectators, no followers, none of that. It’s not a state of affairs the place you’re going to get a lot assist. You actually must belief your group, and simply take into consideration the truth that the one approach ahead is difficult work and each day restoration.
“As quickly because the participant sees what you might have defined to them, they begin to produce, they alter so much and loosen up. What was beforehand an act of religion, now begins to turn into actuality. That offers them quite a lot of optimism,” Punzano shared of the interval which the Italian hopes to have seen the again of.
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Early on this new season, Berrettini has already performed a starring function within the United Cup, serving to Italy attain the ultimate of the primary version of the mixed-teams occasion.
“We’re optimistic and excited and we’re assured he can get better and return to his earlier degree,” Punzano concluded.
Two wins over Top-10 opponents, corresponding to No. 3 Casper Ruud and No. 10 Hubert Hurkacz —in addition to an in depth three-set defeat to No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas— have brightened the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. Berrettini is as soon as once more feeling aggressive in opposition to the most effective on the planet.