Matteo Fortini Making Most of Debut Season as Viking

As a kid in Correggio, Italy, sophomore Matteo Fortini did what most boys his age were doing in terms of sports… he started playing football (soccer) and took a look at basketball.

His older sister Veronica was playing in Italian Tennis Federation tournaments and he was going along with mom and dad (Germano and Milena Fortini) to watch, and he liked what he saw.

"When I was a kid, I was shy and I liked tennis because it was a sport where you are alone," the transfer from University of Modena and Reggio University (Unimore—which is near Correggio) said thinking back on why he chose tennis. There were other reasons, of course.

"It seemed like in soccer and basketball, it was a bunch of kids fighting to get the ball," Fortini said, noting he didn't like the physicality of those sports. Ironically, today one of the hobbies for the 6'2" Fortini is to play basketball with friends.

So, he began playing in club tournaments. Right off, he discovered another reason to like tennis. He was successful.

"I like to win and I'm very competitive. I only played the other sports for a few months because I discovered I was always thinking about tennis," Fortini recalled. He also developed a circle of tennis playing friends. Years later, one of those friends was instrumental in him landing in Portland.

At the age of eight, Fortini started playing in Federation tournaments, which is where the real action is in Italian tennis.

"If you want to climb, if you want to play in really competitive tournaments, you need to play in Italian Tennis Federation sponsored events," Fortini said. "And, as I said, I was a competitive kid and wanted to win."

The stronger competition was right where he wanted to be. By the age of 14, Fortini was practicing a couple hours, four days a week. At 15, tennis was taking up two to three hours daily, including strength and conditioning. And he was playing 40 to 50 matches annually—mostly singles.

He enrolled as an Engineering Management student at Unimore and immediately discovered what he'd probably known already, that the required study load and tennis were incompatible.

"There are no intercollegiate athletics at Italian universities and that was a big frustration. I had to play tennis or study. I couldn't do both, and that system forced me to choose," he said.

A couple of his tennis friends were playing at US universities and that idea intrigued him.

"When I told my parents I was thinking of playing abroad, they thought 'OK, it's just an idea. It's not serious.' But when they knew I really wanted to do that, they were apprehensive at first. We're a very close family and it was a big step, going away. But when they saw I was serious, they said 'OK, we just want you to be happy and have fun'," said Fortini.

One of his friends had played tennis at Virginia Tech and had a number of contacts in the US. Word about Fortini soon got to Viking Men's Tennis Coach Toby Krauel as well as number of others.

Fortini began hearing from US coaches, schools such as Louisville, University of Kentucky and Liberty University. But, it was the call from Krauel that interested him the most.
After getting a heads up, Krauel watched Fortini play on video.

"I liked the way he moved, his athleticism, his ground strokes. He was very impressive," Krauel said. So he contacted Fortini and they communicated via Skype. "I found him to be hard working. He was a genuine, down to earth and nice person," said Krauel.

And Fortini was impressed with Krauel, and with the idea of playing in Portland.

"I'm from a small town (27,000) and I liked the idea of playing in a big city. Portland has a lot to offer. And I found the (Krauel) very communicative. He was a nice man and I liked the way he approached me," said Fortini.

He arrived during the warm sunny days of fall, but hasn't found the colder wetter winters a problem.

"We don't have as much rain, but our winters are cold and we have snow, so it's really not so different."

And he liked some of the cultural differences he found.

"Americans are more friendly, more open minded," Fortini said. "They're always ready to help. In Italy, people keep more to themselves. They're not as friendly."

On the tennis court, Krauel said Fortini has fulfilled his expectations. He's played at the number one and two singles spots and has a 10-5 record. Fortini was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week in early March after singles wins against Montana State and Eastern Washington.

"He made some changes in his game and now competes on the court as well as with his returns and the variety of his shots. He looked like one of the best players in the conference against UM and EWU," said Krauel. "It's an interesting story. Because of his class schedule, there is only one day a week where he can practice with the team. So four or five days a week, we have to go late at night and find courts for him to be able to practice separate from the team."

Playing with his roommate senior Lucas Castelo Branco, Fortini also has had a successful season so far at number two doubles, going 9-4.

Because he's played more, Fortini prefers singles, but he and Krauel think his doubles play can be even stronger than it is now.

"In Italy, I only played eight or 10 doubles matches a year, but I really enjoy it. I want to play doubles better to have even more fun," he said.

Krauel said Fortini needs to work on his transition volleys, looking to cross and poach more and be more aggressive at the net. He can improve in singles, too. But Krauel said he starts from a higher level there.

"He has a big serve and he really dictates the point with his ground strokes. He hits the ball on the rise. And, he's a great athlete. He gets to a lot of balls and he's good at finishing and getting to the net," Krauel noted.

Fortini's goals are to win the Big Sky Conference and improve as a tennis player. Currently, he's a business major because he decided, after looking on line at the PSU catalogue, that business was closer to his work goals. Academically, he wants "to get a degree with a good GPA."

Being 6,000 plus miles away from home, he texts daily with his family and talks on the weekends, working around the nine hour time difference. He spent a month home over Christmas.

"I really enjoyed Christmas break. There was no homework. It was very relaxing and I got to see my friends. I was missing them," he said.

Roommate Castelo Branco is the beneficiary of another thing Fortini misses about Italy. While he likes American fast food, he manages to get a little of the diet he's used to because Fortini cooks his own lunches - usually chicken or fish and vegetables - which he shares. He doesn't know how to prepare some of his favorite Italian dishes, but he did learn some dishes at home, cooking while he mom was at work.

As time has gone by, Krauel has gotten even more pleased that Fortini chose to play for the Vikings.

"He's a nice person who is fun to be around. He loves athletics at PSU and goes to all the games. He supports all our athletes and genuinely cares about PSU. He's a terrific teammate," said Krauel.

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Players Mentioned

Lucas Castelo Branco: Senior; TR

Matteo Fortini: Sophomore; TR

Players Mentioned

Lucas Castelo Branco
: Senior; TR

Matteo Fortini
: Sophomore; TR