BEACHTENNIS.IO had an opportunity to have a talk with the beach tennis star, current #3 of the world - Michele Cappelleti. Michele is Italian professional beach tennis player, 3 times World champion (2017, 2016 and 2015) and ex #1 in the world. He was born in 1992 in Cesena - the city that is 20km far away from the city known to the most beach tennis players - Cervia. In 2018 Kappa has already won three ITF G1 events - Fortaleza, Reunion and Cagliari, and Italian Indoor FIT championship. This is the first interview of a new BEACHTENNIS.IO project - Beach tennis people. Hopefully, you will enjoy it!

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BEACHTENNIS.IO: When and where started your beach tennis journey?

Michele: I started to play beach tennis when I was 10 years old on the beach in my city (Cesenatico). In the beginning, I played just during the summer as my main sport was tennis. When I turned 15 I stopped playing tennis. The reason for that was my dad - the first beach tennis coach in the beach tennis history. He made me addicted to the sport and since then I don't stop playing this amazing sport. The first significant title I won was the Italian single championship against Marco Garavini in the final (I was 17 years old at that moment).

BEACHTENNIS.IO: Tell us about your training program. Do you dedicate much time working on your technique and physics or it’s mainly playing practice matches?

Michele: Most of the time I train my technique and physics skills. Normally I train 6 times per week!

BEACHTENNIS.IO: What does it mean to be professional in a beach tennis?

Michele: Unfortunately, with the actual prize money it’s impossible to make the professional player at 100%. However, the best players can have a great life travelling all around the world in wonderful places playing and teaching beach tennis!

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?

Michele: My sponsor is SEXY brand. I’m very lucky and grateful to be part of this team because it’s giving me the possibility to play all around the world. So I’d like to make a special thanks to SEXY brand! My supporters and especially my family always supported me from the beginning of my career, especially my dad. He helped me a lot as he is a great beach tennis coach.

BEACHTENNIS.IO: Do you have a favourite tournament? If yes, which one and why?

Michele: Yes, my favourite one is the World championships in Bagno Delfino (Cervia), because I play at home and often go to train there. All my friends and family come to support me during the tournament. The atmosphere is unreal with the biggest beach tennis tribune in the world.

BEACHTENNIS.IO: What is your the most memorable match/tournament? Why?

Michele: The final match and victory of my first World champion (2015) title in Cervia is, for sure, the best memory of my career until now.

BEACHTENNIS.IO: The question which quite often appears in social media – changing rules of beach tennis to make it the sport more interesting and visually beautiful, specifically for TV. What do you think about that?

Michele: We need changes, for sure, and in my opinion, wouldn’t be so difficult to do so. We already did some tests in a exhibition tournament in Rio de Janeiro and we got great feedback. Slower (and if possible in the future bigger ball), more attention to the foot fault and to play the return not closer than 2/3 metres from the net would be already a great change and solution in order to have a better show for TV.

BEACHTENNIS.IO: What can you say about the future of the sport?

Michele: I always try to be positive... With more help from the national and national federations we need to make grow faster this sport! Go to the olympics must be our next goal and step! With some rule changes I’m sure we would already deserve to be there!!

BEACHTENNIS.IO: A few words/advices for our readers.

Michele: Remember the main and unique secret of this sport: it’s a sport for EVERYBODY! A kid and a grandmother can have the same fun playing this sport! Find me another sport in the world that can give you this chance! Try to have fun that is always the most important thing!