Matteo’s Berrettini comeback earns him Comeback Player of the Year honor at the 2024 ATP Awards | ATP Tour

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Berrettini’s comeback earned him the honor of 2024 Comeback Player of the Year

December 12, 2024

Matteo Berrettini has been named comeback player of the year at the 2024 ATP awards after returning from a six-month layoff to win three tour titles this season. The Italian’s peers voted for the honor after he rose from the lowly No. 154 returned to the Top 40 of the PIF ATP Rankings.

“I’m very happy to win the award for the comeback player of the year,” said Berrettini in a message to the fans. “Thank you very much for your support. It’s been a great season, a big effort for me and my team. Obviously I’m very happy with the results we got and I can’t wait to get on the pitch in 2025 for more success.

“Thank you again for your support. Without you, the fans, it would not have been possible.”

After an injury-riddled 2023 season, which ended after the US Open due to a torn ankle ligament, Berrettini would return for the 2024 Australian Open with new coach Francisco Roig. But on the eve of his first Melbourne major, he was forced to withdraw due to a new foot injury.

He finally returned to competition in March, when he reached the final of the ATP Challenger Tour event in Phoenix in his first event back. After dropping three sets to Andy Murray in Miami, Berrettini re-announced himself on the ATP Tour by winning the ATP 250 in Marrakech.

The Italian’s progress was also slowed by illness, but he returned after a two-month suspension in style by reaching the final in Stuttgart in June in his first event back. In July, he went on a 10-game winning streak to claim back-to-back titles in Gstaad and Kitzbuhel. His three clay court titles this season brought his total on tour to 10.

“If you can’t do your job and what you love to do, then it’s always a struggle. So I’m very grateful for every time I have to spend on the court, doing and doing my best,” he said. press at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. “I know it’s a process. I did a good job this year to rebuild my quality, and I feel good.”

Berrettini finished the season with a 32-12 record and capped his campaign by helping Italy retain its Davis Cup title, winning singles in the final two rounds.

Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori were also named Comeback Player of the Year at the 2024 ATP Awards. Nominees are decided by a vote of the International Tennis Writers’ Association (ITWA), with the winner chosen by the shortlisted players.