Tennis star Matteo Berrettini was jokingly presented with an £11 restaurant gift card in a car park after winning a lighthearted “Hottie” tournament.
The Italian player, known for reaching the Wimbledon final in 2021 and competing in the semi-finals of both the Australian and US Open, added a unique 11th title to his list of achievements.
Berrettini, who boasts ten official tournament wins, can now include this humorous accolade to his name.
The 28-year-old was crowned “The Hottie” after fans participated in a vote to determine the sexiest male tennis player.
The competition was organized by former American players John Isner, Sam Querrey, Jack Sock, and Steve Johnson, hosts of the Nothing Major Podcast.
Berrettini was comically awarded the championship in the parking lot of the Indian Wells Open.
Querrey and Johnson presented him with a sash labeled “winner,” a plastic trophy, and the £11 gift card to the Italian-American restaurant chain Olive Garden.
Isner posted 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: “The dedication to get him a plastic trophy and a $15 olive garden coupon is hilarious.”
Another added: “This is the most hilarious and ridiculous tennis-related thing I’ve ever witnessed.”
Another person joked: “Hahaha Olive Garden for the Italian.”
The podcast team later quipped: “Can you believe this wasn’t sponsored by Olive Garden? PS: Olive Garden DM us.”
Berrettini won the “hottie” title, surpassing contenders like Tommy Paul, Casper Ruud, Grigor Dimitrov, and British No. 1 Jack Draper.
Despite having earned £9.6 million in his career, the podcast hosts jokingly stated they had “covered the cost of his ravioli” with the gift card.
