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‘We’re fine for the next 10 years’: why an Italian wave is sweeping Roland Garros

He’s now germinated at number 104 in the world, but he remains for a whole golden generation the man of the click. In 2018, the 72nd ATP player Marco Cecchinato blasted Roland Garros for two weeks by reaching the quarter-finals, having fired Novak Djokovic in the quarter. “We trained with him and said to ourselves: Well, this guy is good, but he’s not brutal, so we can do that too. »

Behind these words, Matteo Berrettini, one of the top 10 players, 25-year-old Roman has been one of the leading figures in the revival of Italian men’s tennis for two years, along with Yannick Sener (19) or Lorenzo, Mossetti. (19 years old) and Sonego (26 years old). While French tennis is at the bottom of the hole, trans-Alpine men’s tennis has an enormous pool of talent, fueled by a boom in licensees.

In 2011, none of the 32 seeded players were at Roland Garros. This year, they are five in the third round of the Paris Grand Slam, even if, on Friday, Fognini’s defeat to Argentine Delbonis and the fratricidal duel between Mussetti and Cecchinato, this Saturday, will not allow them to break the record. Five Italians in the second week.

Beat the championships at home

A simple opportunity is not enough to decipher the causes of this wave blue. “Every generation has more or less talent. Ten years ago, look, France was with Tsonga, Monfils, Gasquet … ”dalibor Cirola, physical trainer at the Italian Academy of the famous coach Riccardo Piatti, who coached Ljubic, Gasquet, Raonic or Djokovic lists .

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He also takes the example of girls who did well ten years ago, such as Francesca Schiavone and Sarah Irani, the Paris Prize winners.

Italy’s Yannick Sener contributed to the French retreat by eliminating Pierre Higgs Herbert in the first round. LP / Arnaud Gournois

However, the fertile ground for such talent has changed dramatically, insists the person who worked with Italian Andreas Seppi before dealing with Canadian Milos Raonic and Croatian Borna Coric. “Over the past five or six years, there have been a lot of Challenger and Future . tournaments (Editor’s note: Categories under the ATP Circle) organized on Italian soil. From May through October, every week, we have at least one, or even two, Dalibor Cirola explains. This is the main reason. Young Italians can play half a season at home without traveling or spending any money. We are facilitating access to tournaments, especially for juniors, by offering them invitations. “

You can stay in Italy and be less tired of traveling more. It is ideal for youngsters, who can be quickly confronted at the highest level,” confirmed recently Matteo Berrettini, who serves as a troop commander.

“Today, I was asked if Italy could win the Davis Cup”

In 2004, the Italian Federation established a technical center in Tuscany, in order to identify and train future champions. Transalpine coach Alberto Castellani believes the Italian coaches have been able to open up to other management styles, without waiting for the authorities.

“Some took more time than others to give the mental preparation the place it deserves, finding the magician in each player,” confirms the person who has worked in private academies. To shine, magic now stays permanently in the high fields and takes advantage of this transitional period that seems to be emerging.

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“With Sinner and Musetti, we’re doing well for the next 10 years,” recently confirmed “veteran” Fabio Fognini. “I see him when I go to take gasoline, that’s what he told former Italian champion Paolo Bertolucci in early May at Corriere dello Sport. Before it was only good morningAnd the Good night. Today, I was asked about Sinner and Musetti, I was asked if Italy could win the Davis Cup…”

Before the team title, it’s actually about winning a Grand Slam tournament. The trophy that escaped from Italy since 1976 and a certain person from Adriano Panatta in Roland Garros.