The 21-year-old won the first Challenger in his career in Francavilla after having lived the sparring experience of the number 1 in the world at the Internationals: “The exchanges with Nole and the 1st round with Cilic made me understand many things”
The future of Italian tennis is engraved in the roll of honor of Challenger tournaments. Zeppieri, Cobolli, Nardi and now Arnaldi too. The blue Next Gen plays the charge and with a new name at the top becomes even more present on the mouths of the Tour. In the week following his debut at the Internazionali d’Italia, Matteo Arnaldi, new n.239 in the world rankings, takes the Challenger title of Francavilla, winning an all-Italian final against the 2002 class of Francesco Maestrelli (6-3 6-7 6-4).
Growth
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In the Challenger 50 of Francavilla al Mare the young Sanremo found his ideal dimension and in the run towards the title he left only one set on the road (lost in the decisive act) and just 11 games before the final. A totally dominated path, in which Arnaldi knocked out in sequence: Francesco Forti (n.334 Atp), Pawel Cias (n.465), Dan Added (n.190), Hernan Casanova (n.187) and the wild card Maestrelli (no. 403). Before Sunday, his best result of the season was in the tournament in Split, where he reached the first semi-final at Challenger level, starting with the qualifiers.
Nole’s hand
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The turning point for Matteo can be said to have come less than two weeks ago, at the Internazionali d’Italia, where he played his first Masters 1000 thanks to the wild card obtained in the pre-qualifiers and had the opportunity to exchange with the idol of always Novak Djokovic. “I entered the field a bit tense but it was an incredible feeling to be able to train with the world no.1,” explained Arnaldi. “After the first round played with Cilic and the time of sparring with Nole, I realized that the difference with the greatest is not in the level itself but in the way in which you act in the important moments. It is the head that makes the difference ”. From careful observer to perfect performer in just 12 days.
Uphill
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The 21-year-old was not prepared for the glitter and glamor of the Tour, however, before peeping into the Roman 1000. “For me everything is new, even the transfer to the players’ hotel”, his words upon arrival at the Foro Italico. But in tennis, as in life, all that glitters is not gold, especially when he starts from the rear: “When I played in the ITF I slept in a place similar to a garage to play a tournament in Georgia. To get to the club it took almost 3 hours by bus on bad roads “. The road to success is still long and winding but the blue has shown that he is not afraid to get his hands dirty to reach his goals. Arnaldi will restart immediately from the Challenger of Vicenza, where he will find the American Nicolas Moreno De Alboran on his debut. In the same event 13 Italians will be at the start: you can still dream.
May 25, 2022 (change May 25, 2022 | 15:41)
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