Bocconi Triumphs on the Court in the French Riviera

Less than six months after Fabio Fognini's win, the Italian colors are still dominating the clay courts overlooking the Mediterranean at the Monte-Carlo Country Club. This time it was the turn of the players on the Bocconi University team to dominate with forehands and backhands at a prestigious competition with some of the best universities on the continent.

The Bocconi Sport Team players at the 2019 edition of the European Clay Court Challenge, Gabor Borsos, Nicolas Carlone, Marco Micunco, Micol Devescovi, Francesca Denti and Eleonora Bellavita, defeated players from HEC Paris and Oxford University in their groups, both 3-0 (each match included a men's singles, a woman's singles and a mixed doubles). Then, they won against the Swiss players from St. Gallen 2-1 in the semifinals and then Cambridge in the finals with another quick 3-0.

"We started out very strong," says Arianna Magagnoli, the team's coach and leader, "dominating both group matches thanks to the contribution of all the players on the team. These are really prestigious courts to play on, the tournament is very well organized and there are high standards. One of our players, Gabor Borsos is a great example. He's enrolled in the SDA Master in Food and Beverage, and he has already made seven appearances on the Hungary Davis Cup team." But, over and above these pinnacles, the average level of the Bocconi team is really high, with many in Seconda Categoria. Like Francesca Denti, a student enrolled in her second year of BIEM, for example: "I had already been to the Monte-Carlo Country Club as a spectator of the Master 1000, which takes place every year in April," says Francesca, "but returning as a player is completely different. It is a difficult emotion to describe, but what struck me was the organization as a whole, truly worthy of a great tournament. The atmosphere between us players was relaxed and friendly off the court, but during the matches there was great competition because playing for the team gives you an extra boost."

"Even changing in the same locker rooms that usually host the greats of world tennis is an exciting experience and one of the reasons I'll never forget this competition," says Nicolas Carlone, a 23-year-old Garbagnate native and a Sports Science graduate who is now enrolled in the first year of the Economics and Finance program. His FIT ranking is 2.4, but he already has "enough points to become 2.3. Until last year I was also playing tournaments abroad, in the ITF circuit, but starting this year I've cut back a little and I play mostly in Italy. I also came to Monte Carlo as a spectator and I certainly didn't think I would play on the same court where Nadal and Djokovic usually play..."