“I was sick until three days ago”: Virus fears emerge around Indian Wells as Berrettini battles illness

The Indian Wells may be facing an unexpected problem beyond the tennis courts, with reports suggesting a virus could be circulating among players competing at the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 event in California. Several competitors have reportedly dealt with illness during the opening days of the tournament, raising concerns about player health during one of the most important stops of the early season.

Italian star Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist, has become the most prominent player to acknowledge being affected so far. The former world No. 6 revealed he had been sick just days before the tournament began, an admission that followed a physically draining first-round victory in which he visibly struggled with cramps.

Berrettini eventually defeated Adrian Mannarino 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in a dramatic match that lasted nearly three hours. The Italian collapsed to the ground immediately after converting match point, clutching his legs in pain as tournament medical staff were called to assist him.

While the cramps initially appeared to be purely physical fatigue, Berrettini later confirmed the situation was linked to illness he had been dealing with shortly before the tournament began.

The Italian’s match against Mannarino quickly became one of the most talked-about contests of the opening rounds. After dropping the first set, Berrettini battled through increasing physical discomfort to complete a comeback victory that showcased both resilience and determination.

During the third set, his movement visibly deteriorated as cramping began to affect his legs. Despite the pain, Berrettini continued to compete until the final point, eventually securing the win and advancing to the next round.

Speaking after the match, the Italian explained that the physical symptoms made sense given the illness he had recently experienced. “I fought really hard, until the very last point. At the beginning of the third [set], I started to feel a little bit of cramping.”

Berrettini said the cramps initially caught him off guard before he remembered that he had only recently recovered from being sick. “I was a little bit surprised at the beginning but then I remembered that I was sick until three days ago, so I was like, ‘Okay, it’s normal.’”

The victory keeps Berrettini alive in the tournament, but his physical condition remains a question mark as he prepares for a challenging next-round match against world No. 4 Alexander Zverev.

Berrettini may not be the only player affected. Belgian player Zizou Bergs has also reportedly been dealing with illness during the tournament, with his father Koen Bergs suggesting that a virus could be affecting multiple competitors.

Koen Bergs shared the update on social media while discussing his son’s condition during the event. “Handling well his illness (stomach complaints due to virus among the players) with tennis focused on efficiency.”

The comment hinted that stomach issues may be affecting several players in the tournament field, though no official confirmation of a broader outbreak has been announced by organisers.

Indian Wells attracts one of the largest crowds in professional tennis outside the Grand Slams, with thousands of spectators and hundreds of players, coaches, and staff gathering at the venue daily. In such an environment, illnesses can spread quickly through locker rooms, practice courts, and shared facilities.