BERGAMO/STARNBERG, November 20, 2025
Francesco Maestrelli walked into last year’s Rovereto edition of the Internazionali di Bergamo Trofeo FAIP-Perrel ranked No. 284 in the world. He was coming off a difficult stretch, still adapting to coach Giovanni Galuppo and grinding through ITF World Tennis Tour events to regain points and confidence. Twelve months later, he has returned as a very different player. Now World No.157, Maestrelli is one of the main attractions at the ChorusLife Arena, and his win has taken him into the quarterfinals of the ATP Challenger Tour tournament in Northern Italy.
He has already defended the points he had to protect, and should he win the title, he would even surpass his career-high ranking of No.149. It would be a symbolic reward for a season highlighted by two Challenger titles – Francavilla al Mare and Brașov – and the consistency that allowed him to return to Grand Slam qualifying. The next big target is clear: making it into Grand Slam main draws.
To take the next steps, he must win matches like the one against Buvaysar Gadamauri, the Russian-born Belgian who impressed spectators all week with his elegant one-handed backhand and remarkable touch. But Maestrelli prevailed 6–3, 6–3, despite several hurdles. In the first set he had to fend off nine break points; in the second he fell behind 0–3 with a double break. No matter: Maestrelli shifted gears brilliantly, sweeping six straight games and conceding only seven points in the process.
“He hits the ball very well, especially with the backhand, which gives very tricky angles,” Maestrelli said. “Players with that kind of backhand are becoming rare. I tried to serve well and make things productive for me so he couldn’t dictate. At a slower pace he would have been very dangerous.”
Maestrelli repeated one theme several times: “I’m working a lot.” That includes work on his serve, which can reach impressive speeds but sometimes misfires. He hit seven double faults—three in one game. “We’re really focusing on the second serve. I want to be more aggressive than I would naturally be, and sometimes it can slip, especially when I’m not perfectly sharp. But it happens because I’m pushing myself.”
Season Reflections
Aside from a potential Serie A1 final with his club TC Santa Margherita Ligure, Bergamo is Maestrelli’s last tournament of the year, making it a natural time for reflection. “I always aim high, but I’m satisfied. The year started so-so because of an injury, but thanks to hard work I found continuity and the results came. I’d love to finish well, maybe by matching last year’s final, even if this time it’s in a different city.”
The Pisa native, a contemporary of Lorenzo Musetti and Flavio Cobolli, doesn’t compare himself to others. “It’s not important when you get there, the important thing is getting there,” he said. “Of course, earlier is better, but I’m giving it my 100%. I believe I have good potential, and I think it’s just a matter of time. I don’t care if others got there first – I just hope to do the same.”
Statistics paint an intriguing picture of his competitive profile: Maestrelli owns a 5–6 record against top-100 players – impressive for someone who hasn’t yet cracked that group—but sits at 34–47 against players ranked between No.100 and No.200. “I didn’t know that,” he admitted. “Top-100 opponents are rare in Challengers. Since I’m currently in that 100–200 range, I hope to build more solidity and continuity against those guys. And if I get the chance to play bigger tournaments, we’ll see. Next year I’d like to be more consistent at that level.”
A Packed Calendar and Life on Tour
With the ongoing debate about the length and intensity of the ATP season, Maestrelli’s view carries weight: he has just played his 73rd match of the year (singles only) and Bergamo marks his 31st tournament. Are the top players right to complain, or does Felix Auger-Aliassime have a point when he says that tennis players should not dramatize, because they do what they love?
“Honestly, I don’t know where I stand,” Maestrelli said. “The calendar is very dense, and sometimes the feeling of not being able to stop can lead to mental burnout. I wouldn’t mind having a break in the summer with weeks dedicated to training and rest. A lighter schedule would be nice, but it’s manageable as it is. In the end, we play tennis – we’re not going to war. It’s a tough job in many ways, but we’re privileged in others.”
Finally, just before stepping on court for doubles with Stefano Travaglia, Maestrelli addressed his evolving relationship with social media—after his well-known outburst against online haters two years ago. “I’m not a public figure yet, but for more exposed people it can be a double-edged sword. I don’t like that everyone can interact with everyone, especially when it’s negative or malicious. I’ve made peace with social media in the sense that I don’t care much anymore. I don’t use it a lot – I relax in other ways. I don’t neglect it, but it’s not my life and it doesn’t affect me.”
For now, what matters most is keeping his winning momentum on the court.
Italian Surge: Guerrieri and Napolitano Advance – Six Italians in the Quarterfinals
Maestrelli’s next opponent will be Stefano Napolitano, at 8 p.m. on what promises to be an intensely Italian Friday: six Azzurri have reached the quarterfinals in Bergamo. Joining Maestrelli in the Final Eight are Andrea Guerrieri and Napolitano himself. Both defeated dangerous qualifiers – Visker even entered as a lucky loser.
Guerrieri earned the biggest result of his career, dismissing Alexander Donski 6–4, 6–0. Remarkably, he reaches his first Challenger quarterfinal after playing (and winning) four matches, while his next opponent will arrive with just three games played after Justin Engel advanced via retirement and then received a walkover from Mark Lajal.
Napolitano also moved through with a composed 6–4, 6–4 win over Niels Visker, a doubles specialist who struggles with movement and baseline exchanges. The Italian broke him three times to seal a matchup with Maestrelli—his first meeting with him away from clay. Maestrelli leads the head-to-head 2–0, but conditions will be very different this time.
THURSDAY RESULTS
Singles – Second Round
Francesco Maestrelli (ITA) d. Buvaysar Gadamauri (BEL) 6–3 6–3
Andrea Guerrieri (ITA) d. Alexander Donski (BUL) 6–4 6–0
Stefano Napolitano (ITA) d. Niels Visker (NED) 6–4 6–4
Justin Engel (GER) d. Mark Lajal (EST) via retirement
Doubles – Quarterfinals
Theo Arribage / Albano Olivetti (FRA/FRA) d. Michele Ribecai / Juan Cruz Martin Manzano (ITA/ITA) 6–2 3–6 10–7
Davis Poljak / Tim Ruehl (CZE/GER) d. David Pichler / Filip Pieczonka (AUT/POL) 7–5 6–4
Joshua Paris / Marcus Willis (GBR/GBR) d. Francesco Maestrelli / Stefano Travaglia (ITA/ITA) 7–6(5) 6–4
