Djokovic conqueror and Italian talent: what Luca Nardi has in common with Roger Federer

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“It’s a miracle,” says a very happy Luca Nardi after his sensational victory over Novak Djokovic (36) in Indian Wells (USA). “I don’t think anyone knew me before this match.”

The 20-year-old is probably not wrong, after all, this was only his fourth success in the main draw of an ATP tournament. After his first appearance on the tour in October 2020, he appeared in the rankings for the first time, six months later he was at number 715. And now he has defeated the number one in the world and will enter the top 100 for the first time appear on Monday. ‘Crazy’, he calls it.

World title at age 13 and doing well at school

The journey started more than seven years ago. It is January 29, 2017. Die-hard tennis fans remember this day because on that Sunday Roger Federer (42) won the Australian Open in Melbourne after a six-month break – in an epic five-set final against Rafael Nadal (37) . On the other side of the world, in Tarbes in the south of France, 13-year-old Nardi U14 becomes world champion.

In the semi-finals he defeated Holger Rune (now number 7 in the world), and in the final he defeated Hamad Medjedovic (ATP 132), last year’s winner of the NextGen final. Brother Niccolò Nardi then told ‘Il Tennis Italiano’: ‘He wins because he shows more professionalism and maturity on the court than others his age.’

Nardi had a motto from an early age: “My parents always tell me to have fun.” It was always important to Mama Raffaella that he did well at school. The homework always had to be done immediately, so that Luca could then fully concentrate on tennis training, she says. However, his school performance was always good.

“He doesn’t like being the center of attention.”

Francesco Sani has been mentoring the self-proclaimed Napoli fan and avid motorcyclist (MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi comes from the same district) since his first attempts at tennis at the age of seven. “We quickly noticed that he was very talented,” Sani said after his protégé’s U14 World Cup title. “He has all the skills to reach the top.” Today Sani speaks to supertennis.tv about an “almost brotherly relationship”.

Nardi is now knocking on the door of world leaders. In 2022 he won his first three Challenger tournaments, including the one in Lugano, when he defeated Leandro Riedi (22, ATP 170) in the final. In the same year he also won a match at an ATP tournament for the first time. In 2023, two more Challenger titles and participation in the NextGen Finals were added.

The right-hander prefers to enjoy sushi or his mother’s “pasta al forno”. This shows that Nardi has never liked the hype around him: “He doesn’t like being the center of attention.” This is exactly where he is now thanks to his victory over his idol Djokovic, a poster of whom will remain hanging in his room.

Source : Blick