Tennis legend Nicola Pietrangeli criticizes modern games and media attention on Matteo Berrettini

By | Niranjan Bhargav 21 Feb, 2023

Italian tennis legend, Nicola Pietrangeli, has voiced his criticisms of modern tennis and his fellow Italian players. In a recent interview with a prominent Italian sports publication, Pietrangeli took aim at Matteo Berrettini for both attracting tabloid headlines and not moving well on the court. He also lamented the lack of finesse in modern tennis, feeling that the sport is now dominated by super-athletes with too much emphasis on physicality and power.

Berrettini in the Tabloids:

Pietrangeli was highly critical of Berrettini’s recent appearances in tabloid headlines, suggesting that the Italian player should focus more on his tennis game than on advertising. He warned Berrettini of the career of Filippo Volandri, who failed to live up to the hype after defeating Roger Federer.

Lack of Finesse in Modern Tennis:

Pietrangeli bemoaned the current state of modern tennis, claiming that the sport has become brutish and “ugly.” He took aim at the overemphasis on physicality and power, arguing that the sport has lost its finesse. Pietrangeli feels that the game has changed for the worse, and that talented players now need to be great athletes to even consider playing on the court.

Endorsement of Italian Players:

Despite his criticisms, Pietrangeli did give his endorsement to one Italian player over the others, saying that he enjoys watching Lorenzo Musetti’s tennis the most. He also labeled Jannik Sinner as the best of the Italian group but admitted that he does not like the style of the 6’2” player from San Candido.

Nicola Pietrangeli’s criticisms of modern tennis and Italian players have attracted significant attention in Italy and beyond. While he did endorse some of the Italian players, Pietrangeli’s criticisms highlight a concern that the sport has lost its finesse and that athleticism has become the dominant factor. While some may disagree with his views, his comments do raise some valid points about the current state of the game.