PODCAST: Ettore Zito, Coach of Bethanie Mattek-Sands

• Tennis Podcasts

I chat to Ettore Zito who is at the Italian Open in Rome coaching Bethanie Mattek-Sands who is playing doubles with Sofia Kenin.

Ettore talks about his tennis journey from being an excellent junior in Sicily playing with Salvatore Caruso and Marco Cecchinato to playing college tennis at Middle Tennessee State University, getting a masters at Grand Canyon University while being the assistant coach to their tennis teams; to currently coaching Bethanie Mattek-Sands, former world #1 doubles, olimpic gold medalist and multiple grand slam winner.

He also talks about the Rome Masters 1000 tournament, the atmosphere and situation with Covid.

You can follow Ettore Zito on Instagram: ettore_zito

Ciao Gianluca

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Website: https://anchor.fm/gianluca-sola

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Twitter: @GlSola

SOME INFO ABOUT ETTORE

2014-15 (Senior)
Fall: Went 4-3 in singles play while advancing in the round of 64 with a win against Tennessee’s   Andrew Domsky (10/18) … Turned in two wins in doubles competition with Ben Davis and Gian Issa … Spring: Name First Team All-C-USA in singles for the second-straight season …Tied with two other players for a team-high 13 victories … Spent the season primarily as the No. 1 or 2 player in the lineup … Tied with Ben Davis with seven wins in the No. 1 slot …. Participated in a team-high 22 singles matches …. Strung together a season-high four match win streak, including a win over then No. 6 TCU … Was the only player on the team to win against a nationally ranked opponent … Twelve of his 13 wins came in straight sets … Notched a 10-6 record in doubles play, most notably a 6-2 record with Zyhmantovich … Pieced together a season best six-match win streak that saw wins against Indiana (3/21) and Memphis (4/3).

2013-14 (Junior)
Fall: Went 2-1 in singles play at the Dale Short Shootout. Spring: Named All-Conference USA first team after going 13-6 in singles play & Tallied a 6-5 mark in doubles action with junior Victor Hoang & Ranked as high as No. 86 in the ITA singles rankings & Named Middle Tennessee SGA Male International Athlete of the Year for his efforts in 2014 & Defeated four ranked opponents on the season & 16 of his 19 decisions came at No. 1 singles & Moved up to No. 1 in mid-February and secured that spot for the remainder of the season & Knocked off players ranked No. 48, 54, 73 and 103 in ITA singles during the season & Won a crucial No. 1 singles match and helped a shorthanded Blue Raider team to the doubles point in a 4-3 win over No. 60 UCF (April 13). 

2012-13 (Sophomore)
Fall: Reached the round of 32 at the UTSA/ITA Ohio Valley Regional, Oct. 19-23 & Finished the fall season at 10-4 in singles play & At the ITA Men s All-American Championships in Tulsa, Okla., Zito went 3-1 to reach the final round of pre-qualifying. Spring: Selected to the All-Sun Belt Second Team in singles, going 18-7 in dual play & Finished the year at a combined 28-11 in singles and 3-4 in doubles & The season included stints at Flights 1, 3, 4 and 5 & His biggest win came against Stefan Vinti of Mississippi State, whom he knocked off in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2 & Against Simon Norenius of NC State, Zito won 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, to help the Blue Raiders knock off the Wolfpack & In the team dual with Virginia State, Zito defeated Mauricio Antun, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 to spark the Blue Raiders on a four-point comeback for the victory. 

2011-12 (Freshman)
Fall: Earned a 7-5, 6-0 win in his first collegiate singles match against Southern Illinois & Also earned a 9-7 victory in first collegiate doubles match against Southern Illinois with partner Ben Davis & Won four consecutive matches, three in straight sets, defeating Alabama s Carlos Taborga on his home court, 7-5, 6-1, for the flight title at the Crimson Tide Fall Championships & Advanced to the semifinals with partner Matthew Langley at the Crimson Tide Fall Championships.
Spring: Finished the season with a 24-11 singles record, including a 13-7 dual mark & Registered a 18-17 doubles record with a 13-10 dual mark & Primarily played at the No. 4 position in singles and No. 3 in doubles & First victory of the spring came against Davidson at the Larsen Bowker Invite & Earned a singles win against opponents from five nationally ranked programs & Won nine of last 10 singles matches, including two at the Sun Belt tournament & Partnered with Matthew Langley throughout the spring and earned victories against opponents from four nationally ranked programs & Won six of seven doubles matches entering the Sun Belt tournament. 

Prior to MT
Two-time gold medal winner of the Jeux Des Isles Internationals, given to the tournament's best player & Ranked No. 170 nationally & Won the U16 doubles tournament in Malta and finished the season ranked No. 80 in Europe & Semifinalist at the U18 ITF tournament in Poznan, Poland and Salzburg, Austria & Ranked No. 368 in the ITF U18 rankings. 

?Personal
Born May 14, 1991 in Siracusa, Italy ... Son of Rosalia and Giuseppe Zito ... majoring in management ... father played professional soccer.