Last Updated on May 10, 2024
Luca Nardi has burst onto the scene as one of the brightest young talents in men’s professional tennis. The 20-year-old Italian had a breakthrough 2023 season, winning four ATP Challenger titles and qualifying for the Next Gen ATP Finals. His biggest achievement so far came in March at the Indian Wells Masters, where as a lucky loser he stunningly defeated world #1 Novak Djokovic in the third round before falling to Tommy Paul. Now ranked a career-high #81, Nardi faces another tough test tomorrow in Rome against #17 Holger Rune.
Luca Nardi’s Coaches
Much of Nardi’s rapid development can be credited to the coaches who have guided him throughout his young career. His first and longest-tenured coach is Francesco Sani, who began working with Nardi when he was just 5 years old at the Baratoff club in Pesaro.
“I have known Luca since 2008…Even from the start you could see he was extremely comfortable on a tennis court, despite being a very shy child,” Sani said. “Maybe he was a bit awkward off the court, but on it he had very clear ideas.”
Sani nurtured Nardi’s natural talents and love for the game. “For a long time, Luca took tennis only as fun…He would go out on court with the same tranquility with which he showed up for training sessions,” the 34-year-old coach explained.
Their fruitful partnership lasted until November 2023, with Nardi winning his first two Challengers under Sani’s tutelage in 2022.
Nardi recently went through another coaching change, parting ways with Giorgio Galimberti just four weeks ago. In an Instagram post, Nardi explained the amicable split, writing “I wanted to make an update on my coaching situation and let you know that I decided to stop working with Giorgio Galimberti. I feel that I want to move forward a bit differently but I definitely want to thank him for the great results and achievements that we have had together, and I wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
Nardi had worked with Galimberti at his academy in Cattolica after leaving longtime coach Francesco Sani in November 2023. It was under Galimberti’s guidance that Nardi broke through by winning two Challenger titles and reaching the fourth round of the Indian Wells Masters with his stunning upset over Novak Djokovic. But now it seems Nardi is heading in a new direction with a potentially reunited team around him.
The younger Italian’s coaching staff also included Gabriele Costantini as the second coach, physical trainer Matteo Baldini, and physiotherapist Frank Musarra during his earlier years. Nardi has also benefited from training periods with fellow countrymen Jannik Sinner and their shared coach Simone Vagnozzi.
With his experienced coaching staff back in place, Nardi looks ready to keep improving his game and rising up the ATP rankings. Tomorrow’s match against Holger Rune in Rome will be another big test to show off Nardi’s great skills on court. Facing the #17 player in the world gives Nardi another chance to prove his talent against one of the tour’s top players.
