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Matteo Berrettini withdraws from Australian Open due to foot

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Matteo Berrettini withdrew from the Australian Open on Sunday on the eve of his scheduled first-round match because of a foot injury, another setback for the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up.

Berrettini, a 2022 semifinalist at Melbourne Park, was due to play 2023 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas at Rod Laver Arena on Monday.

"Matteo Berrettini has withdrawn from the Australian Open with a right foot injury," tournament organizers said in a statement. "Wishing you a quick recovery."

Zizou Bergs, a lucky loser from qualifying, was elevated to the main draw to face seventh-seeded Tsitsipas.

Berrettini, 27, had a run of ailments in 2023, including an early end to his season when he was forced to withdraw from his second-round match at the US Open after injuring an ankle.

He also missed several weeks with a tear in an oblique muscle and had dropped to No. 125 in the ATP rankings from a career-high No. 6.

His best Grand Slam result was at Wimbledon in 2021, where he lost in the final to Novak Djokovic.