Berrettini Splits With Santopadre, Thanks Him For ‘The Hammer’

Matteo Berrettini announced Saturday that he has ended his partnership with long-term coach Vincenzo Santopadre.

The 27-year-old Berrettini worked with Santopadre for 13 years. The Italian won seven tour-level titles under Santopadre’s guidance, while he rose to a career-high No. 6 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

“I arrived in your “tennis arms” not yet knowing what I wanted to do of my life, you managed to make me dream far away while keeping my feet on the ground, day by day,” Berrettini wrote on Instagram.

“I don’t think I can put it down something that can really express what I feel for you. Gratitude, affection, respect, admiration, gratitude, joy and everything that is beautiful in our relationship.

“This is just a professional goodbye that probably increases our personal relationship. I’ve felt you on my side in every difficult moment faced in the last 13 years and, although there have been many hardships, I feel only joy thinking to me and you. I’m happy and grateful to the people who made us meet, and proud of us for how we have exploited this gift that has been granted to us. Without you there would have been Matteo Berrettini, but there wouldn’t have been The Hammer.”

 

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Berrettini announced on Friday he would not play again this year. The Italian has not competed since the US Open, where he retired from his second-round match with an ankle injury.