Italian stars Matteo Berrettini and World No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti have condemned the controversial remarks made by Italian tennis commentators about Holger Rune’s injury hiatus.
During the latest episode of Eurosport Italia’s podcast Schiaffo al Volo, Jacopo Lo Monaco and Simone Eterno discussed Rune’s Achilles tendon injury, but the conversation took a controversial turn after Lo Monaco described it as ‘the best thing that could happen” to the Dane.
Matteo Berrettini and Lorenzo Musetti Speak Against Recent Comments Made on Holger Rune’s Injury
It is worth noting that Rune climbed to a career-high World No. 4 in August 2023, ended the previous season as World No. 13, and currently sits at No. 10 in the rankings and No. 12 in the Race to the ATP Finals. Referring to this decline, Lo Monaco suggested that Rune could use the injury break positively, calling it ‘the best thing that could have happened to him.
“He’s dropped in the world rankings compared to last year, and even more compared to two years ago. So, he’s taking it the right way; maybe it’s the best thing that could have happened to him,” he said in the podcast.
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He seemingly suggested that the injury could prompt Rune to gain a greater perspective, helping him better understand and respect his body’s limits. However, the Italian journalist’s description of the injury as ‘the best thing that could happen’ drew backlash, with Berrettini expressing strong disapproval in a lengthy comment.
“Guys I get it all eh, but this stuff is really chilling… to think an injury of this magnitude could be the best thing to happen to a 22-year-old 11 player in the world is either being in bad faith or understanding very little about this sport and the sport in general. Competitive maturity and not, it comes with time, with defeats, with victories, with matches lost with match points or maybe wins by playing badly,” he wrote in the comments.
The 29-year-old further condemned the remarks by stressing that such a severe setback can alter a person’s life and career. He said treating it casually, without empathy, was disturbing and showed a lack of compassion towards Rune.
“This is an injury that can radically change a persons life, let alone a career at this level. I always listen and comment almost never, but here the madness is heard, I understand wanting to talk, say your own thing, always, in any case, but to hear that “the curtain popped” without a bit of compassion or sensitivity, as if we were talking about a balloon to burst on the carousel Gives me the chills,” he added.
Fellow Italian and current World No.8 later backed Berrettini’s stance as he wrote in the comments:
“To be read “WELL” and “LOUDLY,”” translated from Italian to English.
Rune sustained a serious injury during his semifinal clash against France’s Ugo Humbert at the 2025 Stockholm Open. Rune won the first set 6-4, and in the second set at 2-2, he chased down a wide shot, landed awkwardly on his left foot, and collapsed in pain before ultimately leaving the court in tears.
The good news, however, is that the 22-year-old has since undergone successful surgery and appears on track for a swift recovery.
