ATP Challenger of Monza, the long marathon of the insiders and the party of the fans
From the Food truck festival to the Boschetti to the red clay grandstand. And behind the scenes many little ball boys on their first commitment
The meeting between the champions of the ATP Challenger and the many kids who work as ball boys
Monza – Final stages for ATP Challenger Atkinsons Monza Open 25. A red thread links the centre of Monza, where the shop windows are decorated with a tennis theme, and the Monza Tennis Club where the matches are held. Through Viale Regina Margherita, visitors arriving from the station towards the sports facility on Via Boccaccio enters the Royal Groves, where until this evening they find the food truck festival, an invitation to street food, surrounded by greenery and in a quiet area, away from the crowd of fans.
A party di unique colours, scents and flavours from all over Italy, as well as excellent Italian craft beers and a quality music selection. Many operators from everywhere, on board ape cars, carts, vans, bicycles, caravans, motorbikes and trailers, equipped with hot plates, ovens, fryers and grills. The kitchens will also be active today, from 12 to midnight.
Just a step away you will find the tennis club, where races and training sessions follow one another from 10 in the morning. Today is the last match. The climate is feverish, the physiotherapists of the Zucchi sport center begin in the morning with unloading, preparation, joint mobilization and pre-race and maintenance massages. The same is repeated after the race to unload the fatigue of the intense effort. The athletes complain of previous injuries from overload to the shoulders, ankles, coming from other previous tournaments. In the matches of the week they have put muscles and joints to the test. "The first few days are tough because there are so many athletes - observes Roberto Volpi, head of the "physio" staff - the last few days are fewer, but the tension increases".
Strategic Protagonists of the Week i very young ball boys from Villa Reale tennis Monza. Among them are Giovanni Ciceri, 14 years old, and Francesco Bocchio, 9, both students at the International School of Monza, who gave notice that they would have to take a few days off school for their very first work experience on the sidelines.
"This week has been fun – says Giovanni – but the concentration is high. There are 25-30 of us ball boys a day, 6 of whom are on the court at a time. It often happens that we don’t have any changes and so it becomes tiring. But we are honored to do it, it’s our tennis club and we are happy to help”. Giovanni is the coordinator of the ball boy group, his job is to teach the little ones when to move, move the balls and bring the towels without disturbing them. “I enjoyed coming here every day – says Francesco – even if in the end I am tired. While the athletes play you have to stay still, so as not to distract them. Then it’s nice to approach them and ask for an autograph or a selfie. It’s nice to be a ball boy, like those you see on TV at the ATP Finals”. They both identify with Iacopo Vasamì, 17, a little older than them.
Satisfied spectators and sponsors, like Aura Cosenza, together with her father Carlo: “Well-organized event; a great energy and desire to become the new champions filters from the protagonists. We hope it will be repeated. Beautiful meeting, in a splendid context”. Fabio Sala, owner of Bitter Carlo Sala 1909 is also a member of the Tennis club, together with Andrea Villa, both fans of Raphael Collignon: “His anticipation on the ball and his speed are exciting. These days our club is celebrating and full of people. Beautiful to see him like this”, they say.
Among the very young, Alice Zagaria, 17, from Merate, at the athletes desk: “I attend the linguistic high school – she says – and in these days I have been able to try out a bit of English, Spanish and German. I play tennis in category 3.1 and will soon enter the second National category”.