Landaluce wins his first challenger: “I want to get close to 1% of Nadal’s career”

The Spanish Martin Landaluce18 years old, was declared champion this Sunday in Olbia (Sardinia), his first title in the challenger category, after defeating the Italian in the final Mattia Bellucci for a double 6-4 allowing him to dream of entering the ‘Next Gen’ ATP Finals.

Landaluce, a Madrid tennis player born in 2006 and a student at the Rafa Nadal Academy, played two games in a row this Sunday. In the semifinal he defeated Matteo Gigante and in the final he defeated Bellucci, two tennis players with a better ranking position.

The Spaniard, former junior number 1, enters thanks to his excellent tournament in the top 200 on the list.

“Today I made a semi-final and a final in one day, something difficult because physically it requires a lot of sacrifice. I enjoyed the final, without nerves. I benefited from the support of the people to play in a high level. Everything was given and in the last point I finished it in the best way,” said Landaluce.

As Nadal’s student at his academy, Landaluce explains his training method and how he feels about sharing moments with the Spaniard.

“I have some of the values ​​that he has, but I want to have more values ​​because he is a great person and role model. great time and I am very grateful,” he commented.

“Like Nadal, I won my first title in Italy. From here I want to get closer to 1% of his career, in and out of tennis.” he added.

The Madrid man, who is eighth in the race to enter the ‘Next Gen’ ATP Finals in Jeddah, is also thinking about next season, where he feels he can make the big step.

“I don’t know what tournaments I have left this year. But I’m going to push hard for next year, which could be a very nice year in my career, the jump. I’ll prepare for it with enthusiasm because Sa I think I will do things well,” he said.