- Matteo Berrettini thanked an anti-diarrhea medication after his first round Australian Open win.
- Berrettini suffered an upset stomach while playing American Brandon Nakashima, but rallied to win.
- "Imodium! Grazie!" — the world no.7 scrawled on a camera lens after taking victory in four sets.
World number seven tennis star Matteo Berrettini overcame some unpleasant stomach problems to progress to the second round of the Australian Open Monday, before thanking an overcounter medicine for helping him out.
Suffering from a bout of diarrhea mid-match, Berrettini had to take three emergency toilet breaks during a four set, come-from-behind win against Brandon Nakashima of the USA at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne.
Berretini lost the first set to Nakashima 6-4, before rallying to win the next three sets 6-2, 7-6, and 6-3 to progress.
The win, however, was marred by his illness, with Berrettini taking a medical timeout in set two, as well as bathroom breaks following set three and during a changeover early in the fourth.
In 2022, the Australian Open is continuing its tradition of asking winning players to sign courtside cameras with a marker pen, and Berrettini obliged in humorous style after his win.
"Imodium! Grazie!" — the 25-year-old wrote on a courtside camera, which roughly translates to "Imodium! Thank you!"
The remark was presumably a reference to Berrettini taking the well-known over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medication Imodium during the match to ease his symptoms.
—The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) January 17, 2022
"I've been feeling sick with my stomach, let's say that," Berrettini said in his on-court interview after the match.
"It was really hard to play, especially through the third and fourth sets. We were playing great tennis, a great match against Brandon. But I tried my best to fight, to do my best, and in the end I'm really happy."
He added: "That battling hold in the 10th game of set three gave him the belief to power through.
"It was really important. I was feeling the match was changing a little bit there. I really held there with my mental strength mostly, because my body wasn't there."
Berrettini will face wild card Stefan Kozlov in the second round on Wednesday.
Elsewhere in Melbourne on Monday, reigning women's champion Naomi Osaka opened the defence of her Australian Open title with a dominant win over Colombia's Camila Osorio.
Returning to Grand Slam action after taking a four-month break at the end of last season to recharge and work on her mental health, the Japanese star raced to a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
"I thought I played pretty well given the circumstances," said Osaka, who has won 23 of her past 24 matches in Melbourne.
"Overall I'm happy to be here and see everyone in the audience. I like the hot conditions but when I come here everyone is warm and welcoming. I'm sure that has a positive effect on me."
The four-time Grand Slam champion will play world number 54 Madison Brengle in round two on Wednesday.