Gulisano, il giovane coach con grandi ambizioni come Gigante

Can a basket of depressurized balls change the course of a boy’s life? According to Marco Gulisano, it seems so. Born in 1996, same age as Matteo Berrettini, Marco has shared a good part of his journey with the Italian tennis star thanks to a friendship that continues to this day, stronger than ever, even after their professional paths diverged.

The current coach of 22-year-old Matteo Gigante – who is making a name for himself as one of the most successful players on the Challenger circuit – starts by recounting this curious episode to tell his story. “I was on vacation with my family at a Valtur village in Simeri, Calabria. My dad, like the Berrettini brothers’ father, is a huge tennis fan, so that summer, daily training on the court was a must. So, at the age of 8, we found ourselves sharing the court with our fathers shooting balls from a basket repeatedly.”

Who used to win between you and Matteo?

“Always him. In fact, to this day, I joke with him, saying I’m the only player who managed to beat him as a junior, since his junior career wasn’t particularly successful.”

And the last time you played against each other?

“At the Lemon Bowl, and he won that match too. Until we were 16, we did more or less the same activities, and our families cultivated a nice friendship.”

Can you tell us your story?

“The passion for the racket was passed down to me by my dad. I started playing in Catania, at the Circolo Tennis Muri Antichi, and continued my ‘non-career’ at Monte Kà Tira, going through all the youth stages, from regional to national tournaments. I attended the Tennis Europe circuit until I was 15, but always prioritizing my studies because my mom wouldn’t hear of it. I studied at a public Scientific High School and, to avoid absences, I couldn’t attend the under 18 circuit.”

When did the turning point to become a coach come?

“Around the age of 16, when I moved away from Fabio Rizzo, the person who taught me the most, first as a player and then as an instructor when I started working. After high school, I had a ranking of 2.4 and tried to play some Futures, but I quickly realized that I needed a much stronger financial base and qualities that, honestly, I didn’t possess. So I enrolled at the University of Sports Sciences. It was Fabio who, at a certain point, told me that in his opinion, I had the skills to become a good coach.”

What were the motivations at the beginning that convinced you to leave the court for the bench?

“Beyond a genuine passion for tennis, I love to travel, and as a player, I couldn’t travel as much as I wanted. Then, as I mentioned, in Catania, thanks to Fabio Rizzo, a group of high-level athletes like Alessio Di Mauro, Francesco Aldi, Gianluca Naso, Antonio Comporto, and Omar Giacalone developed. Rather than masters for beginners or adult courses, Fabio needed a young guy to help him with the professionals. It was my lucky break because I immediately started working with the competitive players.”

Where and with whom did you start?

“At the time, we worked first at the Club Panda and then at Cus Catania. I spent a lot of time on the court while studying, as a sparring partner for the Tabacco brothers, Fausto and Giorgio, and then, in 2018, Matteo called me to tell me that he had to do a tournament alone in Gstaad and asked if I wanted to accompany him, since we hadn’t spent time together in a while and Vincenzo (Santopadre, Berrettini’s coach) was on vacation. So, I went to Switzerland with him.”

You’re one of the few ATP coaches who can boast a debut success. Do you still keep that Gstaad 2018 badge?

“Of course, along with the ball from the final point of the match. It was a beautiful week, Matteo’s first ATP title, and we had a great time together, even though, to be honest, my contribution was close to zero (laughs).”

Did Santopadre bid you farewell after that tournament?

“I didn’t have much confidence with him at the time, and when we met, he told me: ‘Make others work and go get the trophies for yourself’, plus a typical Roman expression that I won’t repeat. We joked a lot about it afterward. But in reality, it was a very smart move by Vincenzo, who understood that Matteo was tired and needed a lighter presence by his side.”

What did you take away from that experience?

“It opened my horizons. It changed my perspective. I came from a very particular Sicilian context and I wasn’t used to that level of tennis. And then, what surprised me the most was Matteo’s ability to listen, which went beyond the fact that we were friends. In fact, I still use the example of that week with the players I train, telling them how open Matteo was to sharing and dialoguing.”

Since that summer, you moved to the Rome Tennis Academy.

“Exactly. Vincenzo wanted me to join him in this new project. He called Rizzo, and I still have to thank Fabio for ‘freeing’ me and allowing me to have this important experience. For me, Santopadre is a fundamental figure, and I draw a lot of inspiration from him in my work.”

Are there other coaches who have influenced your development?

“This summer, I spent two weeks with Riccardo Piatti for the internship of the master course, but Max Sartori has always helped me. One coach who impressed me a lot was Diego Moyano (current coach of Frances Tiafoe), who at that time coached Matteo’s ex-girlfriend, Ajla Tomljanovic, in addition to Kevin Anderson. He had an extraordinary ability to adapt and be useful for two players who were so different, both technically and in terms of character.”

The transition from Sicily to the Capital?

“A bit traumatic, but fortunately, in Rome, I already had many friends, and Matteo’s family was crucial in welcoming me as a son. Santopadre also helped me a lot.”

From one Berrettini to another, you also worked with Jacopo.

“Working with Jacopo was a crucial experience. In the last three years, I mainly worked with him, as I only worked with Matteo for ten to fifteen weeks a year to give Vincenzo a break. Those were important years, and together we suffered a lot from his misfortunes because when he was physically well, Jacopo was competitive at the Challenger level. I’m very grateful to Matteo and Jacopo. I struggled with the separation, but even now that we don’t work together anymore, I continue to have a brotherly bond with them.”

Is being friends and a coach a limitation, or does it add value to the relationship?

“I have always handled it well, and I must say they were tolerant with me since, due to my inexperience, I certainly made mistakes. When you are emotionally involved and there is a friendship relationship, the responsibilities have a different weight, and difficult decisions are much harder.”

Let’s fast forward to today. You have changed your student but have remained in Rome. When did you meet Gigante?

“In 2018, when I started working at the Rome Tennis Academy (the school led by Santopadre and founded by Luca Berrettini, Matteo’s father), Gigante was one of the players training there, along with Flavio Cobolli. 2019 was Matteo’s first year as a junior, and we spent about ten weeks together. We got to know each other, and in these years, I have always supported him along with all the other players. Then, in November, his coach Alessandro Galli, a key person in Gigante’s journey, called me. He is a talented player with remarkable technical and tactical qualities, thanks to Sandro’s work. Given Matteo Berrettini’s recent decision, which clearly needed a change of direction, among the offers I received, I chose this challenge.”

How is Gigante evolving technically?

“I found a very competitive player. Obviously, there is room for improvement, but his foundation is solid. This is clearly thanks to the work done by Galli. He is not ready for the final leap yet because he has a lot to work on in managing his daily routine. 2023 was essentially his first year as a professional, so he needs time to create his identity that will also reflect on the court. There are still fundamental steps missing, but as the results of recent weeks show, he is on the right track.”

Which shot does he feel most comfortable with and which one should he improve the most?

“He has a lot of room for growth in his forehand and serve, while the quality in executing the backhand is what stands out the most. At the moment, we are trying to work on what he already does well to help him face the challenging moments of the match.”

Is coaching a left-handed player for the first time presenting any challenges?

“Initially, yes, but now I’m having a lot of fun seeing things from a different perspective. I’m discovering angles I wasn’t aware of (laughs).”

Tennis is often about the mind and motivation. How important is the mental aspect for you?

“I was fortunate to collaborate with a coach like Santopadre and with Stefano Massari (mental coach of Matteo and Jacopo Berrettini), who have instilled in me a special attention to this aspect. This is what I was referring to when I talked about managing the daily routine because let’s not forget that the life of a professional tennis player can be very tough. They are often alone, so the mental aspect is crucial.”

The success of Italian tennis is evident, as is the positive push of Sinner and the Davis Cup success. Is all this also boosting those players like Gigante?

“Absolutely, and the important thing is that they support and encourage each other. I have seen how Giulio Zeppieri or Flavio Cobolli help Matteo, who is currently a step behind them. The group is united. The momentum, starting with Jannik, is evident. He is the spearhead and also deserves credit for relieving pressure on everyone, as he is the pinnacle of this movement even in terms of media attention.”

How important is the collaboration with the technical sector of Fitp?

“I feel very fortunate, because since I got to know the Fitp System a bit more closely, I realized the value of figures like Umberto Rianna. Previously with Francesco Aldi and now with Gabrio Castrichella, I have significant technical support, and I appreciate the many benefits of constructive and constant exchange.”

Is there a player you look up to in your work?

“Many years ago, I saw Sinner up close when he was very young, and he impressed me. Today, the model can only be him. He’s a willing guy, a hard worker, capable of always having a productive dialogue with his coaches. I had the opportunity to discuss with Simone Vagnozzi in Monte Carlo: they are really doing an amazing job.”

What does Matteo Gigante’s schedule look like in the coming months?

“The goal is to have a complete year without too many fluctuations. After the hardcourt season, it’s time to move to clay until Paris. Of course, for a true Roman like him, the dream is to play at the Italian Open, so we will see if the conditions are right. It requires patience, and we will assess everything next November.”