Overview
- Berrettini’s withdrawal was announced on January 17 with the Australian Open account relaying his apology and “see you in 2027” message.
- The decision was attributed to physical issues, with specifics yet to be disclosed and further explanation expected from the player.
- Berrettini had been slated to face world No. 6 Alex de Minaur, whose first-round opponent is now lucky loser Mackenzie McDonald.
- In the lead-up, Berrettini skipped a Red Bull exhibition with Flavio Cobolli as a precaution and lost an earlier exhibition to Tristan Schoolkate after showing strong form in Davis Cup.
- The setback extends a difficult run in majors, with reports noting he has missed 8 of 16 Grand Slams since 2022, and his planned South American events are uncertain.