Abbate ready for the next step: “We’re ready to win these matches”

This year, there is no wild card next to Flavio Abbate’s name, nor did he have to come through qualifying. For the first time in his career, the Italian has earned a place in the main draw of a Major directly through his ranking, alongside fellow Italian Alvaro Montiel Caruso.

It is a milestone built on hard work and consistency, one that only fuels greater ambition. “It’s the result of a lot of effort and a lot of tournaments played”, says the Italian. “It’s an enormous satisfaction. We’re competing in the best circuit in the world, where everyone wants to be, and our journey is going well. As someone who demands a lot from himself, I’d say we could still do better, but just being here on merit means a lot. Now we need to take the next step, which is winning matches against very strong opponents who are used to this level of competition. We have to compete, fight and sometimes lose too, because that’s a fundamental part of the improvement process”.

“With Alvaro”, continues the left-hander from Syracuse, “we’re a close-knit pair. We’re friends before we’re padel players. Communication is essential in our sport and our relationship helps us through difficult moments, when we need to pull in the same direction”. Their debut at the BNL Italy Major 2026 will come on Pietrangeli Court against Spaniards Sanchez Chamero and Garcia Trabanco, one of the four pairs that advanced from qualifying.

“They’re two very good opponents”, says the Sicilian, born in 2004. “They already have matches under their belt from qualifying. They’ve played on Pietrangeli and know the conditions. I have a rough idea of how to approach the match, but it will also depend on the time of day because the style of play changes with the temperature. If it’s fast padel, we’ll need to be strong in the transition game from the back of the court to the net. Recently, several matches have slipped away from us because of small details, even when we had built a good lead. But the level is there. I think the time has come to start winning these matches”.

One thing Abbate does not lack is self-belief. It is understandable, considering that in just a few years he has gone from discovering top-level competition to becoming the highest-ranked Italian-born player in the world rankings, currently at No. 74. “Do I feel the responsibility of leading the Italian movement? Not really. Being Italy’s number one is nice, but I prefer to focus on the work and on giving my maximum every day. That’s also why I moved to Spain. To maintain a certain level consistently, you need to train with the best, and all the best players are there”. Including world No. 1s Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia, potential second-round opponents in Rome. “Facing them would be a reward, even more so in Italy with so many people watching. They’re my two favourite players, so playing against them would be incredible. And it would help me understand what it feels like to compete against two such extraordinary champions”.