Mattia Bellucci: ‘Learning is not a straight line’ | ATP Tour

Challenger

Bellucci: ‘Studying shouldn’t be a straight line’

Italian discusses 2024 season

December 04, 2024

Mattia Bellucci lights up the courtroom with infectious power and a fierce aggressive drive. The 23-year-old lefty performs with daring depth, swings for the fences and exhibits a variety of feelings.

The sort-spirited Italian is an entertaining participant to observe and this season, he continued his rise by successful his first main main-draw match on the US Open in opposition to former champion Stan Wawrinka and reaching his maiden tour-level quarter-final in Atlanta. Bellucci ascended to a career-high No. 100 within the PIF ATP Rankings final month and completed the season at No. 103.

There have been highs, like that Courtroom 17 win in opposition to Wawrinka in entrance of a packed New York crowd, and there have been obstacles, together with when Bellucci let slip two championship factors in a virtually three-hour Cary Challenger title match. By way of all of it, Bellucci is embracing the teachings discovered alongside the way in which.

“Studying shouldn’t be a straight line and [I need] to provide myself time,” Bellucci advised the ATP Challenger Tour media workforce. “Whenever you put the precise power and you actually search for one thing new throughout follow and attempt to copy what you’re going to do within the matches, that’s when the outcomes come. Attempt to improvise.”

A 3-time ATP Challenger Tour champion, Bellucci superior by qualifying at three consecutive majors this yr: Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open. Bellucci drew a troublesome first-round opponent at every event. He confirmed a excessive degree when he pushed Frances Tiafoe to 5 units at Roland Garros and did the identical at Wimbledon in opposition to 14th seed Ben Shelton.

Then, Bellucci’s breakthrough victory got here at Flushing Meadows. With the group closely supporting 2016 champion Wawrinka, Bellucci rose to the event and earned a memorable win.

“It was positively the spotlight,” Bellucci mentioned. “It was very good. From the start of the match, I felt fairly relaxed despite the fact that I used to be taking part in Stan in a giant stadium.

“From taking part in Tiafoe at Roland Garros to taking part in Shelton at Wimbledon, I felt like the extent was coming and that I used to be doing the precise issues throughout follow. Happening courtroom with the precise conduct and combating for each level was the important thing.”

What else helped Bellucci submit some key wins and enhance in 2024? The Italian didn’t let the win-loss column outline his success. He shifted his focus to the method, believing that consistency and energy would result in progress.

“Specializing in the outcomes shouldn’t be bringing the outcomes, to me at the very least,” Bellucci mentioned. “Concentrate on the efficiency and what you need to do, not what the results of the match is.”