Matteo Berrettini reveals the first meeting with Thomas Enqvist: ‘I remember feeling this energy’ | ATP Tour

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Berrettini reveals first meeting with Enqvist: ‘I remember feeling this energy’

The Italian looks to return from injury

March 06, 2026

He lost a tie to Matteo Berrettini at the end of his BNP Paribas Open first-round win on Wednesday to another in his box: former world No. 4 Thomas Enqvist.

The Italian recently worked with the 19-time ATP Tour number one, with their relationship dating back to Berrettini’s participation in the 2021 Laver Cup, where Enqvist was vice-captain of the European Team.

“I miss the energy,” Berrettini told ATPtour.com. “When I was alone in Boston the first time I went there, my fitness coach came on the day of the game, so I just prepared with Thomas. But Thomas was the one who took care of my preparation, my training and everything.”

Bjorn Borg was famous for being the first captain of this event along with his rival John McEnroe. And while Berrettini was a huge fan of Borg, one of the 29 members of the ATP No. 1 Club, was immediately struck by Enqvist’s presence.

“I remember feeling this energy. This guy loves tennis and he loves working with the players, and I remember that,” Berrettini said. I was like, ‘Who knows, maybe in the future we can work together’. And it happened, so I’m very happy and proud of that.”

Enqvist spent time in the offseason with Berrettini, who started his year last month in Buenos Aires. After losing the first set in four of the first six matches of 2026, the former No. 6 player in the PIF ATP Rankings also dropped his opening match on Wednesday against Adrian Mannarino.

But Berrettini stepped under the scorching California sun and outlasted the Frenchman 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in two hours and 49 minutes. After a point in the game, he collapsed on the field due to pain. The war left him smiling.

“That’s what I enjoyed the most today, I kept telling myself that these are the games and fights I’m working for,” said Berrettini. “All those practices, all those days, getting up and going to hit a lot of balls, it’s all for these moments.

“I’m very happy, I’m very happy that I can do that. Cramping is because I gave everything. I want to feel like this when I play. That’s the main goal.”

Berrettini simply hopes to put himself in such positions. The 29-year-old has struggled with injuries over the past few years and has dropped as low as World No.

Through tough times, the Italian has worked his way up to happy moments on Wednesday – and opportunities like the one he got on Friday against two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev.

“I think you have to accept and enjoy the process that brings you to court because if you smile a lot out there, I feel, at least for me, it doesn’t really work 100 percent,” said Berrettini. “I need to have the kind of fear, the kind of stress I need to be in to do my best. But at the same time, when I’m feeling the way I’m feeling today, I think that’s the key.”