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When Italian Mattia Bellucci earned his first Pepperstone ATP Rankings factors in 2018, the teen relished seeing his identify amongst the celebrities he watched on TV, comparable to his idol, Rafael Nadal.
This season, the 21-year-old added his identify to a brand new record. Bellucci superior by way of qualifying en path to capturing his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title on the Saint-Tropez Challenger in October. He didn’t cease there.
On the Vilnius Challenger, the lefty dropped only one set all week en path to claiming back-to-back titles. Successful 12 straight matches was a welcome sight to Bellucci.
“I bear in mind taking part in my first Futures in 2017 or 2018 and I bought my first two [ranking] factors and it felt superb,” Bellucci stated. “Being in the identical rankings as my idols, even when I used to be like 1,000 one thing, it felt particular.
“I began this season [2022] round 680 within the rankings. I used to be taking part in solely Futures occasions, it was an excellent begin. Initially of the season, I used to be additionally a bit careworn due to how it might go together with my new coach [Fabio Chiappini]. I’m tremendous, tremendous pleased with the extent I’ve performed at.”
After claiming 5 ITF Futures titles within the first half of the yr, Bellucci transitioned to the Challenger Tour and located fast success. The title in Saint-Tropez, France was Bellucci’s eighth Challenger occasion.
Bellucci is one in all seven Italian #NextGenATP children who’ve claimed a Challenger title in 2022: Matteo Arnaldi, Flavio Cobolli, Francesco Maestrelli, Lorenzo Musetti, Luca Nardi, and Francesco Passaro have additionally triumphed this season. Bellucci and Nardi, who has three Challenger titles this yr, are the one Italian #NextGenATP gamers to attain a number of Challenger titles in 2022.
“Once I received the match in Saint-Tropez, I felt tremendous, tremendous drained,” Bellucci stated. “I needed to journey the identical day to residence and the day after to Vilnius. I stated, ‘Okay it could possibly be a primary spherical [loss]’. As a result of if you win a match taking part in seven matches with such an excellent stage after which going indoors, and with out practising indoors as soon as earlier than the match. I used to be tremendous careworn as a result of I used to be coming from a win and I stated, ‘Okay, let’s see the way it goes!’”
“To double up in Vilnius was tremendous particular. Initially of the yr I wasn’t even taking part in Challengers. Once I received, I stated to myself, ‘Now, one thing adjustments!’”
Mattia Bellucci poses with the ballkids on the 2022 Saint-Tropez Challenger. Credit score: Alexander Hergott
Bellucci turned the youngest Italian to win Challenger titles in back-to-back weeks since 19-year-old Stefano Pescosolido in 1991. Hailing from a rustic wealthy in tennis historical past, Bellucci hopes to mix with the opposite Italian children to proceed the nation’s lengthy success.
With three Italians within the High 25 (Matteo Berrettini, Jannik Sinner, Musetti) of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Bellucci seems to comply with an analogous path as his shut buddy, Musetti, to climb up the rankings.
“We’re simulating one another,” Bellucci stated. “I do know Musetti rather well. We performed the identical tournaments once we have been youthful, however he was method higher than me so he went up first.
“I’m like, ‘Okay, if we had the identical previous, taking part in the identical tournaments once we have been youthful, then why not [me]?’ We [Italy] have numerous youthful gamers, ages 20-22 who play at a very excessive stage.”
Mattia Bellucci in motion on the 2022 Vilnius Challenger. Credit score: Saulius Čirba
Born and raised in Busto Arsizio, which is close to Milan, Bellucci began taking part in tennis at four-years-old together with his father, who coached at an area membership. His father, Fabrizio, coached him till the beginning of the 2022 season, when Mattia began working with Fabio Chiappini. Each coaches have performed a key position in creating Mattia into the participant he’s right now.
“I feel I’m an excellent server for the peak I’ve,” Bellucci stated. “I at all times like to variate, beginning with the slice, being aggressive, particularly on exhausting courts. My groundstrokes are at a unique peak. My backhand is tremendous flat and my forehand has numerous spin.”
Boasting a 15-9 Challenger-match document in 2022, Bellucci is ready to shut out his season on the Helsinki and Andria Challengers earlier than embarking on chasing his objective for the 2023 season: cracking the High 100.
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from Tennis – ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/cimSI3k
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