Mattia Bellucci's 2025 US Open experience stretched well beyond his memorable showdown with Carlos Alcaraz on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Italian left New York with something even more valuable.
It was a raw, eye-opening lesson in what it truly means to train with Novak Djokovic.Mattia embraced a practice session with the 24-time Major winner and expected a high standard.
However, he discovered that Djokovic operates on an entirely different level. The legend's intensity, focus and precision demanded on every shot instantly pushed the young Italian outside his comfort zone.
There was no margin for sloppiness and no space for mental drift. Every rally began with intention and ended with accountability. In Mattia's words, Novak's legendary self-expectation filled the entire court.
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When execution slipped, the tension rose. When rhythm clicked, the pace escalated again, just like every time over the previous two decades. Bellucci quickly realized that the session was not a friendly hit.
Instead, it was a survival test designed to simulate real match pressure. Instead of entertainment, the goal was set on improvement, efficiency and absolute discipline, the one that made him the most decorated player in tennis history.
The Italian described the experience as touchy and transformative. The pressure and the speed, joined by Novak's insistence on small but perfect details, forced him to elevate his standard just to stay afloat.
Mattia walked off the court physicallydrained but mentally sharper, learning a lot from the veteran. He stepped into a space usually reserved for the few who stand near the sport's summit.
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Bellucci enjoyed a great run in New York. He faced Carlos Alcaraz on Arthur Ashe Stadium and trained with Novak Djokovic, gainingvaluable experience for his future endeavors.
"Unlike other big names, when you are on court with Nole, there is a much higher level of demand. He demands a very high level of precision from himself and his team; and if things do not go well, he gets annoyed.
I tried to make the training useful for him; the pressure was so high. In terms of emotions and intensity, it was a training session that made me better, stronger.
Reaching that level of demand against the greatest player of all time - I never thought I would find myself in such a situation," Mattia Bellucci said.
