Matteo Berrettini Eyes Shanghai Revival While Sending Support to Injured Jannik Sinner

Matteo Berrettini is back at the Shanghai Masters, a tournament that once signaled his arrival among the elite, searching for the consistency that has eluded him in recent seasons. The 30-year-old Italian arrives with a fresh perspective, aiming to prove he can still compete at the highest level while also processing the news of compatriot Jannik Sinner's season-ending injury.

Berrettini's Shanghai return is about more than tennis

His focus in Shanghai, where play began on October 7, is not solely on results. Berrettini told reporters that 2026 has been an intense year where he has shown he can still produce high-level tennis and experience the big-match emotions. But the sport, he admits, is getting harder due to the management of many off-court factors. His primary goal now is finding a sustainable rhythm and what he calls 'mental balance'. This measured approach marks a shift from the player who stormed to the semifinals here in 2019, a run that cemented his status. That memory provides a benchmark, but his current campaign is built on patience and a long-term view of his career trajectory.

He shared a private message with an injured rival

The tennis world was shaken by Jannik Sinner's decision to end his 2026 season early due to injury. Sinner, 24, had dominated the first half of the year, winning Wimbledon and every Masters 1000 event he entered. Speaking after his first-round win in Shanghai, Berrettini addressed the absence of his countryman. Having endured significant injury struggles himself, Berrettini's perspective was deeply empathetic. "I know what it's like to be injured," he said. "I would never ask him what he has, or how long it's going to take, because I know how tough it is mentally." Instead of probing for details, Berrettini sent a supportive text. He revealed its message: "I texted him that I was waiting for him, that everybody was waiting for him. Unfortunately this year, we lost the best player in the world." He remains positive about Sinner's recovery, noting the younger player has one of the best teams around him.

His new approach is being tested in real time

Berrettini's current philosophy is being put to the test in the pressure cooker of a Masters 1000 event. The tournament in Shanghai carries strong symbolic value and prestige, attracting the sport's biggest names. For Berrettini, it represents both a past highlight and a present challenge. His new approach prioritizes sustainable performance over sporadic brilliance, an acknowledgment of the physical and mental toll the tour exacts. He believes he has demonstrated this year that he belongs at the top table, but maintaining that requires a careful, balanced management of all aspects of his professional life. The proof will be in his ability to string together wins and build momentum through the end of this season and into the next.

Key Takeaways from Berrettini's Shanghai campaign:

• The Italian is competing at the Shanghai Masters, which started on October 7, with a focus on long-term consistency over immediate results.
• He sent a private, supportive message to Jannik Sinner after the world number one ended his 2026 season early due to injury.
• Berrettini's best result in Shanghai was a semifinal appearance in 2019, a performance that helped establish him as a top player.
• At 30 years old, his strategy now involves managing multiple factors to achieve 'mental balance' and sustain his career at the elite level.