Berrettini and the others already working for the new year: from the Australian Open onwards, this is how Italian tennis players aim to get to the battle for the third salad bowl
She has already run to blue. The Davis Cup encore in Malaga excited the whole of Italy’s tennis scene. And the possibility of chasing a magical hat-trick in front of the home crowd has ignited the internal rivalry of the Italian troops. From Jannik Sinner on down, everyone began their winter preparation with a view to Australia. All with different objectives and calendars but with a common goal: wearing the national team shirt in the Final Eight in Bologna, from 18 to 23 November. The captain, Filippo Volandri, after the confirmation of the title in Spain, had said that he would have understood a possible defection of Jannik Sinner for 2025, but November is far away, and above all it was not yet known that the final phase, from the quarter-finals onwards , would have been held in Italy. Sinner has shown that he cares a lot about the blue, that he fits in very well in the team and that he is a young leader. If in 2023 he carried the team on his shoulders by always winning singles and doubles, this year he shared the task with Matteo Berrettini: “It’s difficult to finish the year better than this – he said -. In the Italian team I always felt safe , there is respect and friendship. And if we are happy together off the pitch, then the results also come.”
All protagonists
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Volandri has always underlined the importance of every player, on and off the pitch. Giving credit also to those who stayed at home. Flavius Cobolli he has always cared a lot about the blue and getting to wear him in Bologna, in the group stage last September, was “one of the best days of his life”. In Malaga the Roman number 3 in Italy and 32 in the world was not there, also slowed down by a problem with his right shoulder which affected the final phase of his season: “I will always be there for the national team – said Flavio on the eve of the Final 8 in Spain -. I think I have grown, I have evolved this season, becoming more and more professional.” Also thanks to his association with Carlos Alcaraz, with whom, just like in 2023, he is training in Alicante. A friend, an example to follow: “Being in contact with his team I understood many things. They have a crazy intensity: 5-6 days of work there drains your energy at the moment, but you find it again later throughout the season Pure Jannik is a great example of dedication and a driving force for all of Italian tennis.” To savor the emotion of the national team again, Cobolli will make his debut in the United Cup on 29 December, together with Vavassori, Errani and Paolini. For his part, Lorenzo SonegoItalian star performer in 2023 also together with Sinner in doubles, this year he was unable to be a protagonist, but he has already resumed training with Fabio Colangelo before spending a few days at the Nadal Academy: “I have always cared about the national team, and I really want to regain my place in Davis.”
The two Matthews
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The one who experienced the triumph of 2023 but was absent in 2024 is Matteo Arnaldi. The Sanremo player, now 37th in the world, had been decisive in both Bologna and Malaga, winning a very important first point in the final against Australia. Arnaldi, who has always been inspired by Djokovic, wore the blue in the group stage, sacrificing an injured ankle in the marathon with Monteiro against Brazil. The usual fighter, ready to take a place in the team that will race for the hat-trick: “We Italians on the Tour have a lot of fun together – said Matteo -. Everyone has their own team, their own path, but we can consider ourselves a group of friends”. Matteo experienced a two-sided 2024, and is now already in Australia to prepare a 2025 relaunch. Alessandro Petrone’s student completed two weeks of work in Sanremo, then flew to Australia, his girlfriend’s country, to continue his preparation. The first event of 2025 will be the Brisbane tournament, before playing the Australian Open. Rebirth It will also be the seasonal debut for Novak Djokovic, his tennis point of reference, but it will also be the debut of Matteo Berrettini, who is aiming for a 2025 to be torn apart, to return to the areas of the ranking that compete with him, much higher than 34 ° place. The Roman, who has just won the “Return of the Year” award from the ATP, which sealed his rebirth with three titles won after a 2023 in the pits, is working in Alicante together with his coach Alessandro Bega: “I’m here There were moments when I pushed everyone away – said Matteo – but he always remained. I feel great credit for this season’s progress pride for the path that also led me to fulfill one of life’s dreams, winning the Davis Cup. Believing in dreams is important, at any age, it doesn’t matter how big it is, but trying to chase it, catch it and then enjoy it.” . For Berrettini the departure for Brisbane is set for December 24th. Christmas performance also for Lorenzo Musetti – already working with coach Simone Tartarini in Monte Carlo together with Corrado Barazzutti – who will fly to Macau on the 20th for an exhibition on Christmas Day before going to Hong Kong, his first tournament of 2025. The goal is to enter among the top 10 in the world, and be decisive again in the national team after a 2024 highlighted by the Olympic bronze.
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