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

Challenger

Bellucci: ‘Studying will not be a straight line’

Italian discusses 2024 season

December 04, 2024

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

The sort-spirited Italian is an entertaining participant to observe and this season, he continued his rise by profitable his first main main-draw match on the US Open towards 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 Court docket 17 win towards Wawrinka in entrance of a packed New York crowd, and there have been obstacles, together with when Bellucci let slip two championship factors in an almost three-hour Cary Challenger title match. By means of all of it, Bellucci is embracing the teachings discovered alongside the way in which.

“Studying will not be a straight line and [I need] to present myself time,” Bellucci instructed the ATP Challenger Tour media group. “While you put the appropriate vitality 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 way of 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 stage when he pushed Frances Tiafoe to 5 units at Roland Garros and did the identical at Wimbledon towards 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 although 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 appropriate issues throughout follow. Happening courtroom with the appropriate habits and preventing for each level was the important thing.”

What else helped Bellucci put up 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 development.

“Specializing in the outcomes will not be bringing the outcomes, to me a minimum of,” Bellucci mentioned. “Give attention to the efficiency and what it’s a must to do, not what the results of the match is.”