“My brother would choose Djokovic, I… Federer” – Berrettini recalls childhood tennis memories

The former world No 6 reveals Jacapo Berrettini brought him back to tennis after a premature separation at the age of three

Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – July 11, 2021 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates with the trophy alongside Italy’s Matteo Berrettini after winning the men’s final

Ayush Vashistha

December 13, 2024

Matteo Berrettini grew up in a family of tennis athletes, with his father Luca and mother Claudia Bigo playing the racquet sport through club level. Thus, tennis is in Berrettini’s heritage, and his journey with a racquet largely began when he was only three years old.

The Italian revealed the same in his ‘Love Letter to Tennis’. Like him, his younger brother Jacapo, the world No 320, developed an interest in the sport and was responsible for bringing the former world No 6 back to the court after a premature separation.

“Dear tennis, my whole family introduced me to you,” Berrettini told the ATP Tour recently. “It was something that was running in our blood. First thing that they that was giving me a tennis racquet when I was three and I remember I didn’t like you tennis. So I stopped playing and I started playing at eight because my brother that is younger than me told me to come back, because it would have been fun.”

The world No 34, a Roger Federer admirer, recalled competing with Jacapo, who preferred Novak Djokovic, in his childhood days.

My brother would always choose Djokovic, I would always choose Roger.”
Matteo Berrettini

“And we would play for hours, in the house, with balloons, with small racquets, big racquets, it didn’t matter. We were just having fun. We didn’t start in the right way but luckily we were able to change this and now I’m enjoying you, fully. You are a part of my life since then.”

Berrettini turned pro in 2015 and went on to face both Federer and Djokovic on the tour. He clashed with the Swiss twice and Serbian four times, failing to collect any wins against the two. He notably battled Djokovic for the 2021 Wimbledon title and lost 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in the final.