Bellucci and what it entails to play against Alcaraz: "I didn't know how to win points"

Carlos Navarro | 4 Dec 2025 | 12.05

Bellucci, after being defeated by Alcaraz in New York. Source: Getty

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Mattia Bellucci has experienced firsthand the demand that lies beyond the first step of the ATP circuit elite. A player from another era, unorthodox, capable of creating spectacular angles with his left-handed play and relying more on timing than power, the Italian has finished his first full year in the top 100 in an honorable #74 position in the ATP rankings, becoming part of the group of familiar faces in the world's top tournaments.

Along the way, he has had stellar moments on the ATP circuit: semifinals at the Rotterdam tournament, where he showcased his talents to the world, defeating players like Daniil Medvedev along the way; his first third-round appearance in a Grand Slam, at Wimbledon, after a convincing victory over the always dangerous Jiri Lehecka... and also, of course, not-so-good moments, bitter days where nothing seems to go right, days that are part of your adaptation to the elite.

One of those moments took place on a heated summer night in New York. Flushing Meadows, Arthur Ashe Central Court, and the second round of the US Open against someone by the name of Carlos Alcaraz. What promised to be a night of discoveries, an evening where the world would be captivated by the potential of this young Italian, turned into a nightmare: he could barely win four games throughout the match, suffered a bagel in the second set, and felt overwhelmed at all times by the tennis of the Spaniard. What does facing Carlitos mean? How did the Italian experience that match? He recalls it in a great interview with the Spazio Tennis colleagues.

"Carlos and Jannik are guys who impress on television, but facing them on the court is much worse. There wasn't a single aspect where I felt on par with Alcaraz. I didn't know how to win points, I couldn't grasp the match. Against other top players, I have felt much more evenly matched in terms of tennis, closer to them, but against Carlos, all I thought was: 'I don't know what to do'". A very assertive statement that highlights a feeling, being overwhelmed and battered, that many others have experienced when the best version of the Spaniard emerges on the court.

Bellucci also accurately defined what it feels like to train against Novak Djokovic

The Italian also spoke of another great, in this case, someone who has already cemented his place in the Tennis Olympus. Precisely in New York, Mattia had the opportunity to train with Novak Djokovic, and the experience also left a mark on the Italian. "Unlike other great players, when you're training with Djokovic, there is a very high level of demand. He demands a very high level of precision, both from himself and his team. If things don't go well, he gets angry. I tried to make the training useful, the pressure was very high. In terms of emotions and intensity, it's a training session that made me better, stronger. Reaching that level of demand against the best in history... I never imagined finding myself in that situation," Mattia recalls emotionally.

Bellucci is perhaps, still, a name not so well known to the general public. Finally, the Italian talked about his arrival on the tennis frontline, his current status as a player, and his eagerness to continue taking steps forward and, consequently, to become a regular in the top circuit tournaments. "This year, I have struggled a lot in terms of consistency, but I think the experiences lived this season will benefit me for the coming year. My goal for 2026 is to be more emotionally stable and handle everything related to daily work and my team much better." Will we see a significant improvement from him in the coming months? Time will tell, without a doubt.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Bellucci y qué supone jugar contra Alcaraz: "No sabía cómo ganar puntos"