Five things to know about Mattia Bellucci

Mattia Bellucci is turning heads this week on the ATP Tour at the ABN AMRO Open, where he has soared into the semi-finals in Rotterdam.

The 23-year-old will aim to reach his maiden tour-level final on Saturday when he takes on Australian Alex de Minaur. Ahead of the clash, ATPTour.com looks at five things to know about the Italian.

Rotterdam: A career breakthrough
Before his current run in Rotterdam, Bellucci had never secured a Top 20 win or reached a tour-level semi-final. Playing with a sense of freedom this week, the Italian qualifier has stunned the tennis world by defeating World No. 7 Daniil Medvedev and World No. 12 Stefanos Tsitsipas, setting up a semi-final showdown with De Minaur. With his impressive rise, Bellucci has climbed 24 spots to No. 68 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

“I think I did big work, also during matches, with my coach,” said Bellucci, who is one of 11 Italians inside the Top 100. “We talked a lot about it, and he pointed out that sometimes I was a bit too thoughtful on court. He encouraged me to play more freely. I think it’s working well now, and I’m seeing the results.”

His father played a pivotal role in his development
Bellucci shares a special bond with his father, Fabrizio Bellucci, who was instrumental in his tennis journey. Fabrizio coached at a local club in Busto Arsizio, just outside Milan, and began introducing Mattia to the game when he was only four. For years, Mattia was guided by his dad’s expertise before transitioning to his current coach, Fabio Chiappini, at the start of 2022. Under Chiappini’s mentorship, the then-19-year-old Bellucci made history by becoming the youngest Italian to claim back-to-back ATP Challenger Tour titles since Stefano Pescosolido in 1991. 

A passion for tattoos
If you watch Bellucci on the court, you’ll notice his collection of striking tattoos. The designs, inspired by Japanese art, reflect his personal style, with his close friend being the creative force behind the ink. Bellucci got inked during the recent offseason and has already expressed his excitement about adding even more in the future.

Rafael Nadal was his idol
As a left-handed player, Bellucci grew up idolising tennis legend Rafael Nadal. He also enjoys watching classic clips of Andre Agassi and John McEnroe, with a particular admiration for Agassi’s impeccable timing and McEnroe’s artistry with touch.

Earned maiden major win at US Open
Bellucci came through qualifying at the Australian Open (2023), Roland Garros (2024) and Wimbledon (2024), but lost in the first round at the three majors. However, he finally earned his maiden Slam win at the US Open in August, when he upset former champion Stan Wawrinka in straight sets.

With the crowd heavily supporting 2016 champion Wawrinka, Bellucci rose to the occasion and earned a memorable victory.

“It was very nice. From the beginning of the match, I felt quite relaxed even though I was playing Stan in a big stadium,” Bellucci told ATPTour.com last season. “From playing [Frances] Tiafoe at Roland Garros to playing [Ben] Shelton at Wimbledon, I felt like the level was coming and that I was doing the right things during practice. Going on court with the right behavior and fighting for every point was the key.”