Bellucci, after his great performance in Rotterdam: "I started enjoying again when I stopped focusing on the ranking"

In addition to Carlos Alcaraz, one of the winners of the ATP Rotterdam, undoubtedly, Mattia Bellucci stood out. The Italian, who began the year outside the Top 100, ended up being one of the surprises of this edition by defeating top players such as Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas. The feat is even more remarkable considering that he reached his first ATP semifinals (losing to Alex de Miñaur) from the qualifying rounds. This 23-year-old player revolutionized the Dutch city a few days ago with his flashy, entertaining tennis, which finally paid off.

Thus, after that dream week, the Italian has landed in the 68th position in the rankings. What does he take from his time at the tournament? "I return from Rotterdam with many positive emotions even though the last match was tough. For the first time, I had to face incredible emotions by defeating top 10 players. Let's say that not only do I bring home important information, but also a baggage of significant emotions. Medvedev and Tsitsipas were very kind at the end of the match, and overall, I received great support from my peers. In terms of planning and objectives, however, this result doesn't change much for me, while in terms of awareness, it provided me with important information and great confidence," he said in an interview with SuperTennis.

These results also stem from confidence on the court, being true to oneself, and having fun. Perhaps that has been the key to his triumphs: "Having fun on the court has always been a fundamental part. One of my difficulties has always been the ability to concentrate. Sometimes I lose sight of the goal because I only focus on the result. That is the great challenge, and in Rotterdam, we interpreted it in the best possible way. However, that doesn't mean the goal is achieved. I have to try to find order; I have to be able to find the right stability. During the Rotterdam week, I achieved that. I have to be able to bring to competitions the things that are asked of me in training."

Overcoming Challenges and Enjoying the Return

Week after week, Bellucci keeps improving and growing. However, he hasn't always experienced great moments like this, as the Italian recalled how between 2023 and 2024, he went through a rough patch from which, fortunately, he managed to emerge. "I went through a complicated period; I was enjoying very little on the court. Then, at a certain moment, together with my coach, we decided not to look at the rankings anymore, and at that moment, I finally started enjoying it again," confessed Mattia, who is already working to continue excelling in the upcoming tournaments.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Bellucci, tras su gran paso por Rotterdam: "Volví a disfrutar cuando dejé de mirar el ranking"