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

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

Italian reflects on injury return

March 6, 2026

After Matteo Berrettini’s first-round win at the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday, he lost sight of a man in his box to post-match cramps: former world No. 4 Thomas Enqvist.

The Italian has recently been working with the 19-time ATP Tour champion, with their relationship dating back to Berrettini’s participation in the 2021 Laver Cup, when Nyqvist served as Team Europe’s vice-captain.

“I remember the energy,” Berrettini told ATPTour.com. “When I first went to Boston, my strength and conditioning coach was here on game day, so I basically prepared with Thomas. But Thomas was in charge of my preparation, training and everything.”

Bjorn Borg is known to have been one of the game’s first captains, alongside rival John McEnroe. Although Berrettini had high praise for Borg, one of the 29 members of ATP Club One, he was immediately shocked by Nyqvist’s appearance.

“I remember feeling this energy. This man loved tennis and loved working with players, I just remember that,” Berrettini said. “I thought, ‘Who knows, maybe in the future we can work together’. It happened, so I’m very happy and proud of it.”

Nyqvist spent some time in the offseason with Berrettini, who started the new year in Buenos Aires last month. The former PIF ATP No. 6 dropped four opening sets against Adrian Mannarino on Wednesday after losing four of his first six matches in 2026.

But Berrettini fought hard under the strong California sunshine and defeated the Frenchman 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in 2 hours and 49 minutes. After match point, he collapsed on the court with cramps. The fight made him smile.

“That’s my favorite thing about today. I keep telling myself that these are the games and fights that I’m working on,” Berrettini said. “All those practices, all those days, waking up and having to hit the ball, it’s all for these moments.

“I’m happy, I’m glad I could do this. The cramps are because I gave everything. I just want to feel like this when I play. That’s the main goal.”

Berrettini just wants to put himself in this position. The 29-year-old has struggled with injuries over the past few years and once fell to 154th in the world rankings.

After enduring the most difficult moments, the Italian has been pushing for the moment he enjoyed on Wednesday and the chance he earned 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 the pitch because if you laugh too hard on the pitch, I feel like, at least for me, it’s not 100 percent effective,” Berrettini said. “I need to have that fear, that nerve, to be able to perform at my best. But at the same time, when I feel like I did today, I think that’s the key.”