MILAN/STARNBERG, June 23, 2025
Three Italians have advanced through the qualifying rounds of the ASPRIA Tennis Cup – BCS Trophy ATP Challenger clay-court tournament in Milan, with Giovanni Fonio leading the charge. At 27, Fonio feels he’s nearing full maturity as a player. “It’s not just about physical performance—it’s about putting all the pieces together,” he said. “I still don’t think I’ve reached my peak, and that’s a huge motivation.”
Joining him in the main draw are Jacopo Berrettini and Federico Bondioli, while top seed Dino Prizmic and US Open junior champion Rafael Jodar also made winning starts. On the flip side, Italians Gabriele Piraino and Lorenzo Giustino were eliminated.
505 matches and counting: Fonio keeps pushing
“Have I really played more than 500 pro matches?” Fonio asked in disbelief after his 6-2, 6-2 win over Germany’s Tom Gentzsch – his 505th career match. Currently ranked World No. 378, the Novara native is no stranger to the ITF and Challenger Circuits. Though yet to make a breakthrough into the sport’s elite, Fonio’s elegant one-handed backhand and consistent play continue to draw attention.
“Returning consistently was key today,” he said of the win. “His serve is his best shot, so getting into rallies helped me take control. The heat made things tricky, but being from Novara and training regularly in Milan helped me cope.”
Fonio is currently around 100 spots below his career-best ranking of No. 269, achieved a year ago. Reflecting on his career so far, he’s frank: “I’m not fully satisfied—otherwise I wouldn’t still be working to improve. I feel like I can do more, and that motivates me.”
While he’s winless in eight matches against Top 100 players, he’s a more competitive 11-28 against those ranked between 101 and 200. “Against the top 100, the difference is mostly mental. The tennis level from No.150 to No.350 isn’t that different. It’s about consistency and stepping up in key moments.”
“Maturity comes later in tennis now”
Fonio’s insights resonate in the Challenger scene, where seeds often fall early and underdogs like qualifiers or lucky losers can go deep. “Anyone can beat anyone. The key is to stay ready—your chance will come.”
While some players look to late bloomers for inspiration, Fonio urges caution. “Everyone has their own journey. In tennis, no two paths are the same. Guys who peaked after 30 are inspirational—maybe not the norm, but still positive examples,” he said. “Full maturity comes later in today’s tennis. It’s not just about physical shape—it’s about having all the pieces come together. That usually happens between 27 and 30.”
Fonio has no plans to switch his focus to doubles just yet. “Doubles is a different world. I know some doubles players feel underappreciated, but that’s an ATP issue. As for the US Open’s mixed doubles choices—it’s good entertainment, but not always based on merit.”
One-handed backhand and vintage style
One of Fonio’s standout features is his one-handed backhand—an increasingly rare sight in modern tennis. “I used to hit it with two hands until I was 12, but it wasn’t working for me. I made the switch late, and the first 2–3 years were really tough. But I stuck with it, and now it’s my best shot.”
He acknowledges the challenges that come with using the shot at a high level. “You have to execute it very well, especially with today’s pace. Players like Musetti or Wawrinka can pull it off. But for most, a medium-level two-hander is more effective than a one-hander at the same level.”
Fonio’s next test will be a first-round main draw match against Dutch No.3 seed Max Houkes, as he continues his quest to unlock his full potential. “At the end of my career, I’ll measure success not just by results—but by knowing I did everything I could to reach my peak.”
Berrettini, Bondioli advance
Fonio is joined in the main draw by Jacopo Berrettini, who upset former top-50 player Mikael Ymer in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2. The Swede, returning from an 18-month suspension for missing multiple doping tests, couldn’t keep pace with Berrettini’s consistency. It’s another strong result for the Italian, who has now won 15 of his last 17 matches and is closing in on the Top 300.
Federico Bondioli also secured his spot, defeating former junior standout Rudolf Molleker 7-5, 7-5. It marks his third successful qualification into a Challenger main draw and his sixth overall.
Prizmic and Jodar impress in opening round
In main draw action, top seed Dino Prizmic lived up to expectations with a convincing 6-1, 6-4 win over Gabriele Piraino. The Italian made a match of it in the second set, earning a break point to level at 5-5, but Prizmic’s big serve bailed him out when it mattered. His coach, Luka Kutanjac, even demanded an extra 30-minute post-match training session with a fresh box of balls—evidence of the Croatian’s hunger to improve.
Meanwhile, Rafael Jodar, reigning US Open junior champion, dominated veteran Lorenzo Giustino 6-0, 6-2 in just over an hour. The powerful Spaniard showed flashes of brilliance and great upside, despite still developing his game. He will next face the winner of Matias Soto of Chile and Portuguese lucky loser Tiago Pereira.
Elsewhere, Diego Dedura—a 17-year-old German with Chilean and Latvian roots—fell to Frenchman Arthur Gea.
