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‘I need to do it’: Italian tennis player Mattia Bellucci reveals inspiration behind Japanese gods tattooed on his arms, ahead of his second round match with American ninth seed Taylor Fritz in the US Open. Photo credit: ATP Tour Image Source: IANS
‘I Need To Do It’: Bellucci Reveals Inspiration Behind Japanese Gods Tattooed On His Arms
Arthur Ashe Stadium: Italian tennis player Mattia Bellucci will carry more than just his racquet onto Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday when he takes on American ninth seed Taylor Fritz in the second round of the US Open. The 25-year-old’s distinctive tattoos will be paying tribute to his fascination with Japanese culture and the inspiration he found during his travels to Tokyo.
Currently ranked No. 95 in the ATP Rankings, the left-hander has Fujin, the Japanese god of wind, tattooed on one upper arm and Raijin, the god of thunder, on the other. As Bellucci prepares for one of the biggest matches of his campaign at Flushing Meadows, the artwork has become another distinctive feature of the Italian’s presence on court.
“They are just typical Japanese tattoos,” Bellucci told ATPTour.com. “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,” Bellucci said. “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.”
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