We have never seen Italian tennis as we are seeing it in this 2021.
For months, names like mushrooms have flourished: Sonego, Sinner or Musetti have arrived, representatives of the new generations, diamonds that have joined other more classic ones, already common on the ATP circuit, such as Fognini, Cecchinatto or the eternal Andreas Seppi (he has 37 years).
The new school
Sonego, Musetti, Sinner … so much Italian talent had to emerge: the one who has emerged is Berrettini
Right now there are ten Italians in the Top 100.
So much talent had to overflow somewhere, it was a matter of time. Some of them were going to go one step further. Matteo Berrettini has done it, perhaps the most forceful – due to his dimensions (1.96 m. 95 kg), not because of his meticulous game – of the Italian academy.
You have to go back to 1976 to find the last great title of an Italian. You have to go back to Roland Garros, to the times of Adriano Panatta.
Then nothingness.
For decades, we have seen Sanguinetti, Volandri, Starace or Bolelli pass, nothing special, nothing until today.
–The good thing is that we are showing that we have something more than football –said Berrettini (25 years old, 9th racket in the world), after beating Hubert Hurkacz (6-3, 6-0, 6-7 (3) y6 -4)-. And that we are very close. Panatta had sent me a message to congratulate me on my win over Felix Auger-Aliassime (quarter-finals). Panatta was a myth to me when I was a kid. On one occasion, he had had the opportunity to rally with him. Then he told me: ‘You will get to serve more than 190 km / h.’ I was a kid and I looked at him strangely. He did not believe him, but time has proved him right.
– But will they listen to you on Sunday (tomorrow)? Hours after its final, Italy will be playing the final of the Eurocup! They asked him yesterday.
– True, this does not usually happen. There have hardly ever been Italians at this stage of a Grand Slam. Let’s see: if I have the opportunity, yes I will follow the game on television, as any other Italian would.
Djokovic’s challenge
The Serbian beats Shapovalov in three sets (7-6 (3) and double 7-5) and aims to reach his 20th great, as many as Federer and Nadal
Before, Italy will talk about its gigantic tennis player, something that has been repeated in recent times.
“We could spend hours talking about each one of us,” Jannik Sinner has said on occasion.
It refers to the characteristics of each Italian, a colorful melting pot of cultures, manners and techniques.
Sinner is cold as ice.
Musetti and Sonego lay their lives on each hit and celebrate a point like a top scorer (a scorer).
Fognini is a gamer. At times, excessively playful.
Berrettini is muscle, and a silk glove.
But where do they come from?
The New York Times, in early June, wrote: “Young Italians are taking over Roland Garros. But they don’t know why ” .
Craig O’Shannessy, an assistant to the Italian Federation for four years, disagrees. To argue his idea, he gives a name: Michelangelo Dell’Edera.
Novak Djokovic celebrates his move to the final, this Friday in London
Dell’Edera is the director of the Italian high performance school, a technician who has decided to dive into other formulas.
–Use metrics, apply new technologies. Look for answers in each of the tools in your hands, ”says O’Shannessy. Dell’Edera goes into psychology, training systems, physiology, the individualized approach to each match …
Read also
Sonego and Musetti train together on the Berrettini campus. Sinner comes and goes.
Centralizing the system has paid off. Berrettini, Musetti and Sinner were planted in rooms in Paris. Sonego played the final at Eastbourne and made it through three rounds at Wimbledon, before falling to Federer. If he is not clouded, Fognini also creates sparkles.
Berrettini, the first Italian finalist in the history of Wimbledon, now faces the worst of difficulties. Novak Djokovic awaits him, a cat, a tennis genius committed to one endeavor: reaching the big twenty, as many as Federer and Nadal.
