Belgian tennis player Gauthier Onclin, born on February 26, 2001, has been steadily making his mark on the professional circuit. Unlike many players on tour, Onclin did not attend university, instead choosing to turn professional in 2018 to pursue his tennis career directly after his junior years.

An interesting aspect of Onclin’s development is that he never experienced grass-court tennis during his junior career, as the grass-court season coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. This didn’t stop him from adapting quickly to the surface, as demonstrated by his impressive performance in his first-ever grass court season at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships qualifying rounds.

Under the guidance of coach Steve Darcis, Onclin has shown remarkable progress on the professional circuit. His breakthrough year came in 2023, when he made his ATP debut in doubles at the European Open in Antwerp, where he particularly impressed by defeating higher-ranked American Maxime Cressy in the qualifying rounds. That same year, he achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 194 in September, marking his steady rise through the rankings.

The 2024 season brought more milestones for the Belgian player, including his first ATP Challenger final at the Prague Open, where he faced former world No. 35 Jiří Veselý. Based in Liège, Belgium, Onclin continues to build his career with a mix of ATP Challenger and tour-level events. His aggressive playing style and ability to adapt to different surfaces have made him one of Belgium’s promising tennis prospects.

A testament to his growing confidence was his performance in Bordeaux, where he defeated the higher-ranked Elias Ymer, showing his ability to compete with more established players. His journey from being unranked to breaking into the top 200 demonstrates the steady progression of a player who’s making his mark on the professional circuit through determination and hard work rather than following the traditional college tennis route taken by many of his peers.

Gauthier Onclin’s sponsors are Indian Maharadja and Wilson. He has earned less than $1 million in his career.

Gauthier Onclin’s Sponsors

Indian Maharadja

Gauthier Onclin has a clothing sponsorship with the Dutch brand  Indian Maharadja

Wilson

He has a racquet sponsorship with Wilson

Italian tennis player Matteo Gigante, born January 4, 2002, in Rome, has emerged as one of the promising talents on the ATP Tour. His journey through junior tennis was marked by steady progression, competing in various junior events including Grand Slams, where he showed early signs of his potential. During his junior years, he particularly excelled on clay courts, a surface that would later become one of his strengths in professional tennis.

An interesting turning point in Gigante’s career came during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Before the pandemic, he was uncertain about pursuing professional tennis as a career. However, the forced break gave him time to reflect, and he made the decisive choice to commit fully to tennis. During lockdown, he maintained a rigorous training schedule of five days a week, six hours per day, which laid the foundation for his future success.

The left-handed Italian’s breakthrough on the professional circuit has been steady and impressive. His game notably improved under the guidance of coach Craig Boynton, with whom he worked until August 2024. During their partnership, Gigante collected multiple Challenger titles and achieved a career-high ranking of No. 132 in June 2024. His success on the Challenger Tour has been particularly noteworthy, especially in 2024 where he dominated with a 16-2 record early in the season.

Most recently, Gigante has shown his ability to compete at higher levels, making appearances in ATP events and challenging established players. His game is particularly effective on clay courts, where his left-handed play and tactical approach have proven troublesome for opponents. Working with a sports psychologist since July 2023 has been crucial to his development, helping him manage the mental aspects of professional tennis. This commitment to both physical and mental improvement demonstrates his professional approach to the sport and suggests potential for further growth in his career.

Matteo Gigante’s sponsors are Australian and Head. He has earned less than $1 million in his career.

Matteo Gigante’s Sponsors

Australian

Gigante wears Australian brand apparel

Head

He has a racquet sponsorship with Head