Italian tennis player Matteo Berrettini has withdrawn from the Australian Open, pulling out of the tournament on Saturday before his scheduled first-round match against local favorite Alex de Minaur. The decision was made after Berrettini fell ill, preventing him from competing in the season’s first Grand Slam. In a message addressed to fans, Berrettini expressed his disappointment at being forced to withdraw.

He thanked the tournament organizers for their support and praised the atmosphere in Melbourne, noting how much he enjoys playing in front of Australian crowds. He also said he hopes to return to the event in the near future. The 29-year-old has enjoyed a successful career on the ATP Tour, with ten singles titles to his name and two Davis Cup championships representing Italy. Currently ranked No. 58 in the world, Berrettini’s strongest showing at the Australian Open came in 2022, when he advanced to the semifinals.

Following his withdrawal, American player Mackenzie McDonald was moved into the main draw as a replacement. McDonald will now face sixth seed Alex de Minaur in the opening round, giving the Australian a different opponent but maintaining strong local interest in the matchup. Berrettini’s absence marks another setback as he continues to manage health issues, while the tournament moves forward with adjusted pairings in the men’s singles draw.