Aldo and Riccardo, Representing Bocconi at the National University Tennis Championships
They're both the same age, 19, with the same ranking, 2.6 (though Riccardo has already earned enough points to move a step up), and the same study program, the Bachelor of Business Administration and Management. Aldo De Florio and Riccardo Stiglich are two athletes called to represent Bocconi at the National University Championships, which were held from 21 to 29 May in Campobasso, Molise. They're both registered for the tennis tournament in the singles as well as the doubles, where they played together. They're a lot alike, but they're also very different from each other: "I started playing tennis when I was 6 or 7 years old," says Aldo, originally from Rome and a former under 12, 14 and 16 regional champion in Lazio, "and when I was 10 years old I started participating in my first regional tournaments. Then, since I was doing well, I started playing more seriously, with my own coach and an athletic trainer. I did all this while continuing to focus on school."
Riccardo's introduction to tennis was a little later, who, until he was 13, chose to play basketball in his hometown of Sondrio. "But then I wasn't tall enough," he jokes, "and so I decided to start playing tennis, where I realized that I could be pretty good." To do so, however, he had to leave his hometown, "because I couldn't grow anymore as a player there," he explains, "so I came to Giussano where there was a great teacher, Argentine Marcelo Charpentier, a former professional player who was at the 100th place in the ATP rankings in the late '90s."
 Aldo De Florio |
It might be a little late to talk about going pro, but Aldo and Riccardo have different opinions about the topic. Aldo, who won the first edition of the Bocconi Tennis Tournament hands down in December (Riccardo didn't participate), is the star on the Bocconi Sport Team at the CUS Milano Cup. He says, "I think I can get a little better, but this is my level more or less. Up until last year I trained every day, but now I only train 2 or 3 times a week because I'd rather focus on my studies." Tennis, one of the most meritocratic sports, isn't forgiving after breaks, and players who train less lose places in the rankings because there are no team dynamics which could hide individual performances. For him, however, currently placed around 400th in the national rankings, competitive matches are continuing, "with tournaments and with the Serie B team National Championship, where I'm playing with Rome's Circolo Antico team. It's a hard championship with lots of traveling."
 Riccardo Stiglich |
Riccardo Stiglich, who won the only previous competition between the two, "at a tournament in Gubbio, two years ago," is taking his time and dedicating time to both his tennis and his academic careers. Because he started playing tennis relatively late, he still has time to fully explore his limits. "My life right now is very busy," he says. "I have tennis, then classes and I study in the evenings. I'm trying to get as high as I can in the rankings" – he's around 320th in Italy right now – "so I can get into the ATP rankings and then participate in tournaments with cash prizes. I still haven't given up the idea that I can make a living off of tennis."
He's also participating in the Serie B teams, with the Pro Patria Milano, but he's aiming for Campbasso: "Looking at the board of registered teams, it looks like it's going to be an interesting tournament," they say, "and we hope we can get as far as possible and earn some important points for the rankings. Then there's the doubles matches, even if we've never played together."
Last year another Bocconi player, Matteo Romanò was also in the championship. This year it's Aldo and Riccardo's turn to represent the university.