Matteo Berrettini is set to participate in the Arizona Tennis Classic - a Challenger tour event in Phoenix, Arizona, and it has taken tennis fans by surprise.The former World No. 6, who is currently ranked World No. 23, crashed out of Indian Wells 2023 in his opening match on March 10. Having concluded his run at the Masters 1000 event earlier than expected, it was announced that the athlete had accepted a main draw wild card for the Challenger tournament in Phoenix, to be held between March 13-19. This isn’t the first time that the Italian is contesting the Arizona Tennis Classic. Matteo Berrettini was the inaugural champion at the event in 2019, when he was ranked World No. 57.Arizona Tennis Classic@aztennisclassicBERRETTINI’S BACK2019 inaugural champ, Matteo Berrettini, is returning to Phoenix as our final Main Draw Wild Card! The former Wimbledon finalist is ranked No. 23 (career-high No. 6) and has 7 career @atptour titles and 5 @ATPChallenger titles !#ArizonaTennisClassic8013BERRETTINI’S BACK💥💥💥2019 inaugural champ, 🇮🇹Matteo Berrettini, is returning to Phoenix as our final Main Draw Wild Card! The former Wimbledon finalist is ranked No. 23 (career-high No. 6) and has 7 career @atptour titles and 5 @ATPChallenger titles !#ArizonaTennisClassic https://t.co/LHjSjjxOoJOther well-known players who have earned a main draw wild card in the Arizona tournament are World No. 38 Diego Shwartzman (who has a career-high ranking of World No. 8) and World No. 210 Gael Monfils (who has a career-high ranking of World No. 6). Four other players inside the top 50 will be seen in action at the Arizona Tennis Classic - Richard Gasquet, Alexander Bublik, Jiri Lehecka and Marc-Andrea Husler.However, Matteo Berrettini’s Challenger level participation, while ranked inside the World’s top 25 hasn’t gone down well with tennis fans. Numerous miffed fans called him out for ruining the chances of lower-ranked players, who would have benefitted from the money and the ranking points.“I think its really unfair to the lower ranked players who rely on challengers for money and points. Just because these guys get knocked out of IW early shouldn't automatically justify wc's,” one fan said.Jo Lawson@JoLawso10321755@ageofthegeek23 I think its really unfair to the lower ranked players who rely on challengers for money and points. Just because these guys get knocked out of IW early shouldnt automatically justify wc's.2@ageofthegeek23 I think its really unfair to the lower ranked players who rely on challengers for money and points. Just because these guys get knocked out of IW early shouldnt automatically justify wc's.“This sucks. Really. These players have no business playing challengers. It trickles down, taking spots from players who need to be in these draws to literally eat,” another fan chimed in.Aron Solomon@aronsolomonThis sucks. Really. These players have no business playing challengers. It trickles down, taking spots from players who need to be in these draws to literally eat. twitter.com/relevanttennis…Relevant Tennis@RelevantTennisBREAKING Berrettini, Monfils, Schwartzman to play next week's Phoenix Challenger 175 thanks to a wildcard.The entry list features Gasquet, Bublik, Lehecka, Huesler, Ruusuvuori and other top 100 players as well.41721BREAKING 🚨Berrettini, Monfils, Schwartzman to play next week's Phoenix Challenger 175 thanks to a wildcard.The entry list features Gasquet, Bublik, Lehecka, Huesler, Ruusuvuori and other top 100 players as well. https://t.co/nxhp5J7nZpThis sucks. Really. These players have no business playing challengers. It trickles down, taking spots from players who need to be in these draws to literally eat. twitter.com/relevanttennis…Here are a few more reactions from fans:EMTO ROUND2CANU@medvedilfWe have a new level of vulturing guys… twitter.com/relevanttennis…Relevant Tennis@RelevantTennisBREAKING Berrettini, Monfils, Schwartzman to play next week's Phoenix Challenger 175 thanks to a wildcard.The entry list features Gasquet, Bublik, Lehecka, Huesler, Ruusuvuori and other top 100 players as well.721BREAKING 🚨Berrettini, Monfils, Schwartzman to play next week's Phoenix Challenger 175 thanks to a wildcard.The entry list features Gasquet, Bublik, Lehecka, Huesler, Ruusuvuori and other top 100 players as well. https://t.co/nxhp5J7nZpWe have a new level of vulturing guys… twitter.com/relevanttennis…N || not enjoying tennis lately@ageofthegeek23how can a top 25 player play at a challenger lol there must be a rule against it twitter.com/RelevantTennis…Relevant Tennis@RelevantTennisBREAKING Berrettini, Monfils, Schwartzman to play next week's Phoenix Challenger 175 thanks to a wildcard.The entry list features Gasquet, Bublik, Lehecka, Huesler, Ruusuvuori and other top 100 players as well.3821BREAKING 🚨Berrettini, Monfils, Schwartzman to play next week's Phoenix Challenger 175 thanks to a wildcard.The entry list features Gasquet, Bublik, Lehecka, Huesler, Ruusuvuori and other top 100 players as well. https://t.co/nxhp5J7nZphow can a top 25 player play at a challenger lol there must be a rule against it twitter.com/RelevantTennis…Fernanda García@MFdaOGWtf twitter.com/relevanttennis…Relevant Tennis@RelevantTennisBREAKING Berrettini, Monfils, Schwartzman to play next week's Phoenix Challenger 175 thanks to a wildcard.The entry list features Gasquet, Bublik, Lehecka, Huesler, Ruusuvuori and other top 100 players as well.41721BREAKING 🚨Berrettini, Monfils, Schwartzman to play next week's Phoenix Challenger 175 thanks to a wildcard.The entry list features Gasquet, Bublik, Lehecka, Huesler, Ruusuvuori and other top 100 players as well. https://t.co/nxhp5J7nZpWtf twitter.com/relevanttennis…niki | maria sakkari im watching u live pls win@berrettiniswifeThis is suuuper embarrassing btw twitter.com/RelevantTennis…Relevant Tennis@RelevantTennisBREAKING Berrettini, Monfils, Schwartzman to play next week's Phoenix Challenger 175 thanks to a wildcard.The entry list features Gasquet, Bublik, Lehecka, Huesler, Ruusuvuori and other top 100 players as well.1321BREAKING 🚨Berrettini, Monfils, Schwartzman to play next week's Phoenix Challenger 175 thanks to a wildcard.The entry list features Gasquet, Bublik, Lehecka, Huesler, Ruusuvuori and other top 100 players as well. https://t.co/nxhp5J7nZpThis is suuuper embarrassing btw twitter.com/RelevantTennis…Mawaya@FafyMai@RelevantTennis And the ones below.have places taken and lives ruined@RelevantTennis And the ones below.have places taken and lives ruinedelena rybaKINO@slaymilagiorgiBerrettini and Schwartzman are playing challengers now? twitter.com/ATPChallenger/…ATP Challenger Tour@ATPChallengerThe main draw wild cards for Phoenix are @MattBerrettini @Gael_Monfils @dieschwartzman #ATPChallenger | @aztennisclassic223The main draw wild cards for Phoenix are 🔥🇮🇹 @MattBerrettini 🇫🇷 @Gael_Monfils 🇦🇷 @dieschwartzman #ATPChallenger | @aztennisclassic https://t.co/eXezSA4T4lBerrettini and Schwartzman are playing challengers now? twitter.com/ATPChallenger/… https://t.co/wZlLCYZpr9Kevin Dillon@kevintdillonWhat in the HELL is Berrettini doing in Phoenix twitter.com/damiankust/sta…Damian Kust@damiankustAll three Phoenix wildcards haven't played a Challenger in a while, but also won a title in their last appearance on this circuit:- Berrettini won Phoenix '19- Monfils won Kaohsiung '18- Schwartzman won Montevideo '16Monfils won his last 15 Challenger matches, Schwartzman 10615All three Phoenix wildcards haven't played a Challenger in a while, but also won a title in their last appearance on this circuit:- Berrettini won Phoenix '19- Monfils won Kaohsiung '18- Schwartzman won Montevideo '16Monfils won his last 15 Challenger matches, Schwartzman 10What in the HELL is Berrettini doing in Phoenix twitter.com/damiankust/sta…H@rafan_99Wait did I miss something? How washed is Berrettini for him to be playing a Challenger 175 event? 🤭 twitter.com/RelevantTennis…Relevant Tennis@RelevantTennisBREAKING Berrettini, Monfils, Schwartzman to play next week's Phoenix Challenger 175 thanks to a wildcard.The entry list features Gasquet, Bublik, Lehecka, Huesler, Ruusuvuori and other top 100 players as well.41821BREAKING 🚨Berrettini, Monfils, Schwartzman to play next week's Phoenix Challenger 175 thanks to a wildcard.The entry list features Gasquet, Bublik, Lehecka, Huesler, Ruusuvuori and other top 100 players as well. https://t.co/nxhp5J7nZpWait did I miss something? How washed is Berrettini for him to be playing a Challenger 175 event? 😂🤭 twitter.com/RelevantTennis…Matteo Berrettini’s 2023 season off to a shaky startMatteo Berrettini has registered five wins against five losses thus far in 2023Matteo Berrettini has dragged his wavering form from 2022 into the new season. The former World No. 6 has scored a mere five wins with as many losses so far in the 2023 season.The Italian tennis player kicked off his campaign on a generally positive note at the United Cup, scoring three back-to-back wins against two losses. However, Berrettini witnessed an unfortunate early exit at the Australian Open, where he was defending his semifinal appearance from 2022. In his opening round clash, the 26-year-old suffered a defeat at the hands of three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray after failing to covert a match point.Berrettini did not feature in any tournaments in February and resumed his campaign at the 2023 Mexican Open in Acapulco. While he managed to reach the quarterfinals, the player was forced to retire mid-match against Holger Rune, owing to a supposed calf injury. The Italian failed to create an impact in Indian Wells as well, and he waved goodbye in the Round of 64 against Japan’s Taro Daniel.Berrettini will now hope to regain some confidence with his upcoming appearance at the Arizona Tennis Classic in Phoenix.