Tennis professional Matteo Berrettini, known for reaching the Wimbledon final in 2021 and performing well in other Grand Slam tournaments, was jokingly given an £11 gift card to a restaurant chain after winning a lighthearted competition.
Berrettini, a winner of ten career titles, can now add an amusing eleventh accolade to his list.
The 28-year-old was named “The Hottie” in a fan vote to determine the most attractive male tennis player.
The online poll was organized by the Nothing Major Podcast, hosted by former American tennis players John Isner, Sam Querrey, Jack Sock, and Steve Johnson.
Berrettini was declared the winner in a comical ceremony held in the parking area of the Indian Wells Open.
Querrey and Johnson awarded him a “winner” sash, a toy trophy, and the £11 gift card for the Italian-American restaurant chain Olive Garden.
Isner shared on Instagram, “We at Nothing Major want to make Matteo feel like he’s at home in Rome.”
Fans reacted positively to the joke, with one commenting on the humor of the plastic trophy and Olive Garden coupon.
Another fan described the presentation as the “most hilarious/ridiculous tennis thing” they had ever witnessed.
Another comment found it funny that an Italian restaurant gift card was given to the Italian player.
The podcast later joked that the award was not sponsored by Olive Garden, inviting the restaurant chain to contact them.
Berrettini won the “hottie” title over players like Tommy Paul, Casper Ruud, Grigor Dimitrov, and British player Jack Draper.
Despite earning £9.6 million in his career, the podcast playfully claimed to have “covered the cost of his ravioli” with the gift card.
