Matteo Berrettini has never left. Although the last few seasons have been slowed down by repeated physical problems, the tennis player who revitalised tennis in Italy with the incredible 2021 Wimbledon final remains one of the absolute stars of the circuit - thanks to his storming game and personality that never goes unnoticed. So much so that he has become one of BOSS' brand ambassadors, dressing him both on and off the court and emphasizing his timeless elegance and class with a racket in hand. And ahead of the ATP 250 in Stuttgart, which is now sponsored by BOSS and where the Italian tennis player is back on grass again, Matteo Berrettini is the new star of More Than.

Matteo Berrettini has already triumphed twice in Stuttgart and has a special relationship with the German city: "Yes, Stuttgart has a special place in my heart. It's a tournament that I've already won twice, but since BOSS joined as the main sponsor, the event has become even more special to me". And his return to the course is also linked to his relationship with his sponsor. "I have a very close relationship with BOSS and the whole BOSS family in Metzingen means that I can enjoy their support. The Stuttgart tournament also marks the start of the grass season, a surface I really enjoy playing on and on which I have achieved some of my best results in recent years."

Indeed, Berrettini's physical and relentless tennis finds a strange balance between power and elegance on the noblest surface, which is amplified in the most critical moments of a sport where the mental component is as important as the athletic one. And Berrettini is an Italian one-off on grass, a surface that is almost extinct and on which the already weak Italian tennis tradition has never been successful, but is more suited to clay. Instead, the Italian tennis player's attacking game comes into its own better when the ball runs wild on the blades of grass with short, intense rallies. "I'm extremely motivated at every tournament I enter, but with BOSS as my title sponsor, I almost feel like I'm playing in front of my home crowd. Yes, I think the feeling and energy I get when I play in Stuttgart is really unique and special."

But tennis is not just about winning shots and impossible ball recoveries, it is also a sport where you have to take care of the mental aspect in order not to stumble into mistakes that are far more serious than the ones you make on the court. Berrettini has never shied away from talking about the difficulties he has faced in his career and encourages others to have the same courage: 'Yes, it's not easy, but I think it's very important to open up and talk about mental health in all areas of life, especially if you have the opportunity to do so.the mental health aspect is extremely important in life and is sometimes overlooked in terms of its impact on professional athletes and their performance. I am convinced that the mental and physical aspects are strongly linked. It is therefore important that both aspects are trained and nurtured in the best possible way." A work on himself that has led him to overcome those ghosts that you sometimes fight with on the tennis court and that are even more dangerous than the opponent on the other side of the net. And Berrettini had to defeat many of them in order to return to the highest level he is capable of. In doing so, he helped other colleagues who found themselves in the same situation, as well as ordinary tennis fans who see him as a reference figure. “I get a lot of messages thanking me for speaking openly about it and helping many people through difficult times in their lives, and that makes me very happy”.

As much as it means dedicating yourself fully to your discipline as a professional athlete, modern sportsmen and women have realised how important it is to create oases of calm where they can switch off before their next competitions. "In the past, the best thing was to go on holiday and spend time with family and friends. I really enjoy going to the beach and I think that's the best place to switch off. Spending time with the people closest to me, my friends and family, allows me to distract my mind and appreciate the simple things in life".

But now Berrettini is ready for the challenge at the most important time of the year, as he says he "hopes to be healthy for the rest of the season". He also doesn't want to miss the great celebration of Italian tennis, as he was the one who ushered in this magical era: "I want to play as many tournaments and matches as possible. I know that I will then be able to climb up the rankings and fight for the biggest trophies in the world again."