Another Friday - another interview. This time we had an opportunity to have a chat with the legend of Beach tennis - Alessandro Calbucci (ITA). He has earned a huge number of titles in beach tennis and is well known for his perfect technique and movement on the court. He has shared with us a lot of interesting and inspiring things about beach tennis, his career and life in general.

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BEACHTENNIS.IO: For beach tennis players you are a living legend. The number of titles you have earned, your perfect technique and movement on the court… But how started your beach tennis journey? When, where and which were your first steps in the sport?

Alessandro: It started "accidentally". I was a football player until 18. After I have started University and I gave up professional sports activities! I used to come back to my birthplace for summer and I saw people playing beach tennis. Some of the best players were my ex-football mates (like Marighella and Tazzari). So I have started to hit the first balls on the beach... A few times I have taken part in amateur tournaments and in 2007 I have played my first pro tournament!

In 2008 I had a great chance to play with the best player at that time - Nicola Gambi. Together we won World championship and at that time everything has started... 

In the meanwhile, I have achieved my PhD degree and after a few sabbatical years has started my beach tennis life.

BEACHTENNIS.IO: So before moving to beach tennis, you haven’t held any kind of racket in your hands... Would you say it’s advantage or disadvantage to start playing beach tennis without any previous experience in racket sports? Why?

Alessandro: This is the question I have been asked many times and actually it's hard to answer! Anyway, in my personal opinion, tennis is an advantage for beach tennis in the short-term and turns in a big obstacle in the mid and long terms. As soon as a player starts to approach a professional level, the "tennis habits" turn into obstacles for the more minimal and fast beach tennis technique.

BEACHTENNIS.IO: I have heard that you spend much time doing yoga and working on your body (physics). Could you tell more about this? When have started your passion for yoga, stretching and what role does it play in your professional career and life in general? Would you recommend it to other beach tennis players?

Alessandro: Yoga was part of my life before beach tennis and I have integrated these two mental and physical activities! Stretching played and plays a key role in different my achievements! Particularly, it helped me a lot to improve defensive part of the game. Regardless of my height, I am still able to execute effectively! Moreover, active stretching helped me to prevent many injuries.

BEACHTENNIS.IO: You are originally from Italy, Ravenna, but as I know, currently you are living in Brazil and running beach tennis academy there... When have you moved to Brazil? What was the reason and could you tell please about your academy? How everything started and what have you already achieved?

Alessandro:  I went to Rio for the first time in 2010. At that time beach tennis was really at the beginning of the development! And I have been visiting that country every year since 2010 and could witness the progressive evolution of the sport in all the country!

Thanks to AJB and the president Carlos Lopes I had the chance to visit new spots! It was amazing to go to some virgin places and after some years to come back and give clinics to hundreds of people! Brazil is the future of beach tennis. Currently the first country in terms of the number of participants! Big shame that Italy wasn’t able to defend and promote the sport which was born on its beaches!

BEACHTENNIS.IO: How differs beach tennis in Brazil from beach tennis in Italy?

Alessandro: Beach tennis in Brazil and in Italy is pretty different! Of course, some climatic conditions allow Brazilian players to play almost every month of the year outdoor! But the biggest difference is how beach tennis is experienced in Brazil. The tournaments are a big union of amateurs and professionals. An average number of participants of the big tournaments like Santos and Copacabana reaches 400 participants!

This union of all the Beach tennis tribe is unique. The only other place I know that has similiar achievment in the sport is Aruba.

BEACHTENNIS.IO: You are playing beach tennis already for a long time... You have witnessed the very start of the professional tour and still are an active player... What has changed for this years in beach tennis?

Alessandro: Beach tennis has changed a lot in these years! Despite the that that the sport hasn't developed so much, the game has imrpvoed and grown. 

Unfortunately, federations have not involved and committed as much as for tennis! Beach tennis will be always at the bottom of the priorities list of tennis Federation! However, regardless this fact, the players (before the guys and now also the girls), started to approach the game in the more professional way: new athletic workout, care of nutrition, etc. Some players and coaches are even more professional than the sport itself.

BEACHTENNIS.IO: Which tournament is your favourite and which tournament would you say is the best in terms of organization? Why?

Alessandro: For many years, my favourite tournament is Aruba. It's really like playing in the paradise... However, the most important tournament for me is individual World Championships. In Cervia, we play in front of expert spectators in the birthplace of the sport.

In terms of organization the best tournament so far was the tournament of Copacabana in Rio. The organizer was able to create a very professional context for the players and for the sport. We felt like professionals in front of the Copacabana palace - one of the most famous spots in the world.

BEACHTENNIS.IO: How looks your training program/day during the preparation for the important tournament?

Alessandro: My training program now is very different from the program a few years ago. Now I'm more conservative and calm. But, anyway, i I'm mostly working now on harmonizing all the crucial aspects of the game- mental, athletic and relationship with a partner. 

BEACHTENNIS.IO: You have played with many different players in a pair. Would you say is better to have a constant partner or have a variety? Could you highlight a player with who you liked to play mostly?

Alessandro: Beach tennis is a doubles sport, so the relationship with your partner is very important! I always appreciated changing partners for some matches in order to test myself.

The best partner to play with, without any doubt, was Garavini. When he is in his best shape - he is unbeatable. However, I have also played a lot with Cappelletti... since he was a kid and, moreover, also my student! We have never been official partners, but we played many tournaments and shared a lot of positive experience together.

BEACHTENNIS.IO: Your supporters. As a top player, you definitely must have supporters/sponsors. Could you tell us more about them and their role in your beach tennis professional career?

Alessandro: As to the sponsors of beach tennis - this is a crucial subject. Unfortunately, we have never had a clever beach tennis technical sponsor, rather the opposite. Except for my current one - SEXY!

We had a lot of expectations from SEXY Brand and Mark, because of its power and his passion. However, unfortunately, ITF has created so many unbelievable obstacles! SEXY was our big hope... And I still hope that the owner of SEXY invents something to support and promote this sport as much as he would like to.

BEACHTENNIS.IO: What are your predictions about the future of the sport?

Alessandro: The future depends on us. We can't foresee the future, but we can prepare it! A union is a key, so it's important that players and some organizers understood that sometimes, is important to renounce to something in the short-term in order to get more in the long-term.

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