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Matteo Berrettini news leaves tennis fans gutted after shock announcement

The Italian has struggled with form since the beginning of 2023.

Matteo Berrettini looking defeated after a loss.
Matteo Berrettini (pictured) has withdrawn from the Monte Carlo Masters after suffering another injury. (Getty Images)

Matteo Berrettini's unfortunate run of form with injuries has continued after the Italian withdrew from his round of 16 clash at the Monte Carlo Masters with an oblique injury. No.6 seed Holger Rune walked through to the quarter-finals without taking to the court when Berrettini withdrew after announcing he had suffered a grade two tear to his internal oblique muscle.

Berrettini has struggled since the end of last year, which has seen him withdraw from a number of tennis tournaments due to injuries. The Italian dropped out of the top 10 and lost in the first round of the Australian Open to Andy Murray in a five-set thriller earlier this year.

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In March, Berrettini drew the ire of the crowd when he was forced to retire against Rune in Acapulco. The 27-year-old was then knocked out in his opening match at Indian Wells.

However, it appeared he was finding form at the start of the clay court season having defeated Maxime Cressy and Francisco Cerundolo in his opening two matches. But in his latest setback, Berrettini didn't even take to the court as he was forced out with the injury that proved problematic overnight.

Berrettini took to social media to confess his devastation at the injury, which will most likely see him miss Roland Garros. "I don't know where to start... I was finally finding my level and getting back to where I wanted to be... this is a difficult one," he wrote.

"I'm very sad to announce I will not be able to play my match today in Monte Carlo. I felt some pain in my obliques during my match yesterday. The pain became significantly worse overnight.

"After consulting with my medical team we decided to have an MRI scan this morning. I have a grade 2 tear in my internal oblique muscle. I can't thank you enough for the support. It means so much."

The tennis world was left gutted for the 27-year-old who has struggled to maintain form on the court after a number of frustrating injuries that have derailed his 2023 season. Berrettini will now be in a race to be fit for Wimbledon.

Monte Carlo Masters drama continues

Elsewhere, Djokovic was left fuming at the chair umpire and booed by the crowd after a controversial call went against him in his shock loss to Lorenzo Musetti on Thursday. The World No.1 was dumped out of the clay-court tournament by his Italian opponent, going down 6-4 5-7 4-6.

Djokovic suffered a surprise loss in the second round - ending his quest for a record-extending 39th Masters 1000 trophy. The match didn't come without controversy, after Djokovic was dudded by a brutal umpiring mistake in the second set.

Matteo Berrettini celebrating after a win.
Matteo Berrettini (pictured) has withdrawn from the Monte Carlo Masters. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Daniil Medvedev advanced against Alexander Zverev 3-6 7-5 7-6 in a late night finish, despite a frosty exchange between the pair at the end of the match. Medvedev went to put his hand out for Zverev at the end of the dramatic encounter, but Zverev barely made eye contact as he brushed past the Russian with a brief handshake.

"Not a lot of love between the two," the commentator said after the moment. Zverev could have been upset at Medvedev's antics in the second set or his opponent's attitude towards the crowd, which put him off his rhythm.

Medvedev played the villain role during the match as he gestured towards the crowd to be quiet after taking a lead in the second set. The victory marked the first time since 2019 Medvedev had defeated a top 20 player on clay.

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