Emerging star Arnaldi on rapid climb: 'Trust the process'

‘Trust the process’ and ‘Patience’ are the two terms Alessandro Petrone, coach of Matteo Arnaldi, has been uttering to his Italian charge over the past year. Arriving at this year’s Australian Open, it is clear they are paying off.

The 22-year-old climbed nearly 100 spots in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2023, ending the year at No. 44. It was a jump that seemed improbable following last year’s qualifying exit at the Australian Open.

“I would describe it as a really good year but it was a slow start,” Arnaldi said. “I started here in Australia. I didn't play my best tennis. I then went to play my first ATP Tour events in Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami. It is never easy to step up and play on the ATP Tour, so it didn't go as I planned but it was normal.

“I didn't plan that, but my coach planned that because he knew I needed to learn, to be patient. It really helped me to just manage matches a bit to get into this world because there are new people, different from Challengers. You start to get to make new friendships.

"I think that's really helped me to get through, to trust this process he said. I think that when I came back from that US swing and I won a Challenger trophy and then I won my first ATP Tour match in Barcelona. After that, everything started to come.”

Arnaldi, who was nominated for the Most Improved Player of the Year in the 2023 ATP Awards, earned his maiden tour-level match win against Jaume Munar in Barcelona. He also won a match in Rome, reached his first tour-level semi-final in Umag and helped guide Italy to the Davis Cup title.

But what was the highlight?

“My first ATP Tour win against Munar in Barcelona,” Arnaldi said. “That is the one that really switched on everything, because if you don't get the win there, maybe you are still there. I started to win after I won that match. Everything came. The little things in my head, I think were a turning point of my season. I had a big growth. I was going on court with more confidence. I knew that I could win.

“I started to play and train against more people. So you start to get to know them better, so when you go on court, you can prepare for the matches better. The match that I won in Rome was also pretty special. I was at home, and the crowd was all for me. Winning the Davis Cup at the end. That was something special.”

While Arnaldi highlights Barcelona as a key moment, he also acknowledges the importance the Next Gen ATP Finals had on his career. The four-time ATP Challenger Tour champion competed in Milan in 2022.

“I think that Next Gen was my first experience as a player on the ATP Tour,” Arnaldi said. “I played in Rome back in 2022 in May, but it was my first match. I wasn't ready for it. They gave me a wild card, so I played and I was super happy. But I think when I played Milan, I knew in my head that I deserved to be there. I had earned my points, I got my matches. I went there with a different mindset.

“That gave me a bit of confidence. It was my first experience playing against top players. Nakashima was Top 50. I played Lehecka, who was 70. It gave me the confidence to start 2023 and to play tour-level events.”

Away from tennis, Arnaldi enjoys swimming, skiing, watching Motor GP and Formula 1, with Valentino Rossi his idol.

The World No. 41 will play Alex de Minaur in the second round of the Australian Open on Wednesday. He is excited to be in Melbourne, where he feels at home.

“I really like Australia, my girlfriend is from Australia. I spent the preseason here in Melbourne and I feel a bit of myself is Australian, so I really feel good to play here,” Arnaldi said. “I feel at home, from one side, because she is from Melbourne, so we have the apartment there, so we can stay home and it is pretty nice. It's really important for me to start the season here. I would like to do well here, for sure, for all the reasons.

“It was my first time doing a preseason away from home and also Christmas and everything. I wanted to spend time with her, with my girlfriend here, with her family, because we moved together in Monaco, so she never spends time here in Australia. The pre-season the weather is hot, you can get used to it.”

Arnaldi will hope his rigorous preparations during the Australian summer will pay off when he faces De Minaur on Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday afternoon.