Tennis professional Matteo Berrettini, known for reaching the Wimbledon final in 2021 and semi-finals at both the Australian and US Open, received an unexpected and humorous prize after winning a recent online competition. He was presented with an £11 gift card to a chain restaurant in a car park after being voted the “sexiest male tennis player” in a poll conducted by the Nothing Major Podcast, hosted by former American players John Isner, Sam Querrey, Jack Sock, and Steve Johnson.
Berrettini, who boasts ten career titles, can now add the title of “The Hottie” to his achievements. The 28-year-old Italian was jokingly crowned champion of the online poll in a car park at the Indian Wells Open.
Querrey and Johnson presented Berrettini with a winner’s sash, a plastic trophy, and the Olive Garden gift card. Isner humorously mentioned on Instagram that the podcast wanted to make Berrettini feel at home, referencing the Italian chain restaurant.
Fans online found the prize amusing, with comments highlighting the humor in the plastic trophy and the Olive Garden coupon. Another fan described the presentation as “the most hilarious/ridiculous tennis thing” they had ever seen.
Despite earning £9.6million throughout his career, the podcast playfully claimed to have “covered the cost of his ravioli” with the gift card. Berrettini won the “hottie” title over other popular players like Tommy Paul, Casper Ruud, Grigor Dimitrov, and British player Jack Draper.
