Italian tennis player Mattia Bellucci will step onto Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday carrying more than his racquet — the 25-year-old's arms bear the Japanese gods Fujin (god of wind) and Raijin (god of thunder), inked as a tribute to a culture that captured his imagination during his travels to Tokyo. Ranked No. 95 on the ATP Rankings, Bellucci faces American ninth seed Taylor Fritz in the second round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows.

The Story Behind the Ink

Bellucci's fascination with Japanese art began well before the tattoos appeared on his skin. His first visit to Japan — where he competed at the ATP 500 tournament in Tokyo in September 2024 — proved to be the tipping point. 'I still didn't have the tattoo,' Bellucci said. 'So I was thinking about it, and I said, I need to do it.'

He returned to Japan later that year to play three ATP Challenger events, deepening his connection with the country's street culture and artistic tradition. The tattooing process subsequently began in Milan, with the left-hander hoping to complete the full-colour artwork as his busy tour schedule permits.

What the Tattoos Represent

'They are just typical Japanese tattoos,' Bellucci said. 'I really like the Japanese culture and Japanese tattoos. So two years ago I started doing some lines, and now I'm trying to fill them up with some colour. It obviously takes some time because I'm travelling a lot and they are in a position where I cannot fill them up very quickly.'

For Bellucci, the artwork is an extension of a broader creative sensibility. 'Tattoos and also some art and stuff like that are some things that make me passionate a little bit,' he said. 'So I'm quite happy to have on my skin something particular that I like and yeah, hopefully I'm going to finish it soon.'

The Fritz Challenge at Flushing Meadows

Thursday's match against Fritz is their second meeting at tour level. In their only prior encounter — in Stuttgart earlier this year — Bellucci pushed the American hard before losing 5-7, 7-5, 7-5. 'I had to do an amazing performance, and I couldn't get the win,' Bellucci said. 'But hopefully the next one is going to be even better. I'll try to play my best tennis, and let's see how it goes. I'm in the U.S., I'm playing an American guy, and I can't wait for it.'

A win would put the four-time ATP Challenger titlist into the US Open third round for the first time in his career.

Learning From the Elite

Bellucci is no stranger to high-stakes encounters at Flushing Meadows. Last year, he faced eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz at the same tournament — a match he credits with sharpening his understanding of what elite-level tennis demands. 'For me, it's always something that gives me the possibility to get better,' he said. 'Because after that, you can see the match, and you can see how you played against a big opponent, and I become even more passionate about the sport.'

With Fujin and Raijin on his arms, Bellucci heads into Arthur Ashe Stadium hoping the gods of wind and thunder bring a more favourable verdict this time.