Chocolate, luck & a sweet victory: Ugo Carabelli’s Miami breakthrough

It seems almost paradoxical that Camilo Ugo Carabelli’s rich vein of form is thanks, in large part, to a radical change in nutrition more than a year and a half ago, and that also the best day of his career at an ATP Masters 1000, on Wednesday at the Miami Open presented by Itau, came as the result of a premeditated excursion from his diet.

On the very day he was vying for his first win in a Masters 1000 main draw, where he was playing as a lucky loser, he woke with a pain in his shoulder.

To ease the pain, he saw a physio at the tournament and took some meds. To improve his mood, he went to the event’s restaurant and visited the no-go section with the tempting desserts labelled strictly off-limits during competition by his nutritionist, who is also his brother.

“I got up, just about. Not in a great mood, I was a bit tired, and I ate a chocolate cookie from the restaurant. I didn’t care at all,” Ugo Carabelli said.

Hours later, he would be celebrating a dramatic 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 victory over the American Brandon Holt, who was serving for the match at 6-2, 5-4.

The 19 March 2025, the date of his first win in a main draw on fast courts. The fortune cookie had worked its magic.

“My body needed it, I really like chocolate, it puts me in a good mood,” Ugo Carabelli added. “Hopefully it will be my lucky charm for the next match. Tomorrow, I might eat another one.”

He could eat it before the match, or even when he’s on court. His body will decide.

“In some matches in my career I’ve ordered cookies to give me a lift. Not my energy, but my mood,” he said. “I think if my body’s asking for chocolate to put me in a good mood like it did here, I should listen. I don’t hold back if I know that it’ll make me feel happier.”

It is a stance that is validated by his results. However, Ugo Carabelli’s recent upturn in fortunes is not only thanks to chocolate. It is also the result of a potent cocktail of hard work and good luck.

Being a lucky loser in Rio de Janeiro was also a turning point, two weeks after his ATP Challenger Tour title in Rosario. After losing in the final round of qualifying, he played in his first tour-level quarter and semi-finals. The result, plus the semi-finals in Santiago at his next tournament, explain his climb earlier this month to a career-high No. 61 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Despite the fact that he is not the favourite for his next encounter against Alex Michelsen, both because of his ranking and the surface, it would be rash to write off another win for the Argentine considering the hot streak he is currently enjoying.

“If I’m hesitant, I feel more confident on clay. There I have a pattern of play. Here on cement, everything is faster and most people in the main draw know how to play very well on these courts. I’m still adjusting,” the Argentine said. “I still don’t have a pattern of play when I’m nervous. Sometimes it’s about luck and your opponent makes a mistake.”

Luck, but also discipline. Every day he has tried to progress on the surface, particularly on the practice courts. From playing points with peers to hitting entire baskets of balls to drill shots and patterns into his muscle memory, the World No. 65 is determined to step up on the surface, and so far he is doing just that.

“I feel like I’ve improved loads,” Ugo Carabelli said. “It’s not long ago that I couldn’t even face some opponents on cement, but now I feel competitive against most of them. So I’m happy about that. As I play more difficult opponents like my next one, I’ll keep improving my game in these conditions.”

On Friday he will be hoping to cause an upset. If he does so, it will be the best victory by ranking of his career and one of the sweetest of his life.