Lorenzo Musetti, the world No.15, has officially withdrawn from Wimbledon 2026 due to a Grade II tear of the right rectus femoris muscle sustained during his fourth-round loss to Casper Ruud at the Italian Open in Rome in mid-May.
The 24-year-old Italian, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2024, has not played since that retirement in Rome. The same injury forced him out of Roland-Garros, marking two consecutive Grand Slam withdrawals and the most frustrating stretch of his career.
The silver lining for Italian tennis is that Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist, earns direct entry into the main draw. Ranked 49th in the world, the 30-year-old Roman was positioned as first alternate when the initial entry list was locked. Without Musetti's withdrawal, he would have faced qualifying.
Berrettini arrives in London with genuine credentials. His quarter-final run at Roland-Garros demonstrated credible physical reconstruction after months of injury struggles. On grass, his powerful serve and attacking game make him a dangerous floater. In 2021, he dropped just one set en route to the final against Novak Djokovic.
Musetti's team is now targeting a return on the North American hard courts this summer, with Washington or Montreal as potential first stops. The talent remains, but patience is required.
