Berrettini Channels Enqvist’s Spark in Indian Wells Grind
Matteo Berrettini’s three-set battle at the BNP Paribas Open exposed his body’s limits but ignited his spirit, drawing on a bond with Thomas Enqvist forged years ago.
In the blistering heat of Indian Wells, Matteo Berrettini collapsed to the court after clinching his first-round win at the BNP Paribas Open, cramps seizing his legs on match point. The 29-year-old Italian had just outlasted Adrian Mannarino 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in two hours and 49 minutes, a gritty comeback that masked deeper currents in his game. Amid the physical collapse, a steady presence watched from the player box: former World No. 4 Thomas Enqvist, whose influence has quietly reshaped Berrettini’s approach this season.
Their partnership, built on shared intensity, dates back to Berrettini’s time at the 2021 Laver Cup, where Enqvist served as vice captain for Team Europe. In Boston, with Berrettini’s fitness coach delayed, Enqvist handled his preparations—warm-ups, drills, the full routine—leaving an indelible mark. Even as Bjorn Borg captained the team alongside rival John McEnroe, and Berrettini spoke glowingly of the legend, one of 29 members of the ATP No. 1 Club, it was Enqvist’s passion that stuck.
“I remember the energy,” Berrettini told ATPTour.com. “When I was by myself in Boston the first time that I went there, my fitness coach arrived the day of the match, so I basically got ready with Thomas. But Thomas was the one who was taking care of my preparation, my training and everything.”
Enqvist’s fire reignites old hunger
That initial encounter planted a seed, one that sprouted during the offseason as Berrettini, a 19-time ATP Tour titlist’s new charge, sought to steady his 2026 campaign. After dropping the first set in four of his first six matches, starting in Buenos Aires, the former No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings arrived in California carrying scars from injuries that once plunged him to World No. 154. Enqvist’s hands-on style, emphasizing mental edges alongside tactical tweaks, helped transform those vulnerabilities into vigilance on the medium-paced hard courts.
Wednesday’s duel against Mannarino tested that evolution. The Frenchman’s flat groundstrokes and underspin backhands probed early weaknesses, snatching the opener as Berrettini’s returns sat short under the sun’s glare. But he adjusted, stepping inside the baseline to unleash heavy topspin forehands crosscourt, disrupting rhythm and forcing errors in extended rallies.
“I remember feeling this energy. This guy loves tennis and loves to work with players, and I just remember that,” Berrettini said. “I was like, ‘Who knows, maybe in the future we can work together’. And it happened, so I’m really happy and proud of that.”
Cramping reveals deeper resolve
By the second set, Berrettini’s one–two patterns clicked: a booming serve setting up inside-out forehands that pulled Mannarino wide, opening angles for down-the-line backhands. The crowd’s murmurs built to cheers as he held in a tense 5-5 game, his slice approaches neutralizing net forays and sealing the break. The third frame mirrored the fight, with Berrettini’s velocity deterring aggressive returns, though the heat amplified every slide and sprint.
Cramps struck after the final point, a raw emblem of his all-in effort, yet he rose with a grin, the desert air thick with his satisfaction. This wasn’t mere survival; it was a psychological pivot, the tension he craves sharpening his edges. “That’s the thing that I enjoyed the most today. I kept telling myself that these are the matches and fights that I’m working for,” Berrettini said. “All those trainings, all those days, waking up and going to hit so many balls, it is all for these moments. I’m so glad, I’m so happy that I could do that. The cramping is because I gave it all. I just want to feel like this when I play. That’s the main goal.”
Zverev awaits sharpened blade
Now, Friday’s clash with two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev looms, a test of Berrettini’s refined serve-volley mixes against the German’s versatile backhand slices. On these acrylic courts, where balls grip for topspin duels, Enqvist’s emphasis on recovery could blunt Zverev’s flat power, especially if Berrettini channels that pre-point fear into precise inside-in strikes. The Italian embraces the process, knowing smiles won’t cut it at 100 percent—he needs the knot in his gut to fire his best.
“I think you’ve got to embrace and enjoy the process that brings you to the court because if you’re too smiley out there, I feel, at least for me, it doesn’t really work 100 per cent,” he said. “I need to have the kind of fear, the kind of tension that needs to be there in order to perform my best. But at the same time, when I’m feeling like I felt today, I think that’s the key.” As Indian Wells hums with anticipation, Berrettini’s path forward hinges on sustaining this blend of grit and guidance, turning seasonal strains into summit climbs.
