The RoundHouse | 4/15/2021 2:47:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Marta Bellucco arrived in Wichita in January 2017 and expected to return to Italy five months later. A semester, she reluctantly agreed, and no more for college tennis.
 
Four years later, she treasures almost every moment of her unexpectedly long stay.
 
"I didn't want to come at first," she said. "I got here and I loved the system of American universities. I love that you can be an athlete and be a student at the same time and the professors understand that. Everybody is working for your success."
 
Bellucco is nearing the end of one of Wichita State's most successful doubles careers as post-season play begins with the American Athletic Conference Championships on Wednesday in Orlando. Bellucco and fellow senior Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva are 14-7 this spring with a 2-1 record against conference opponents and wins over doubles teams from Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Arizona State.
 
In 2019, Bellucco teamed with Fatima Bizhukova to qualify for the NCAA Doubles Championship – the fifth Shockers to do so. They also are the first Shockers to reach the semifinals of the ITA Riviera All-American Championships.
 
After starting this season No. 23 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, Bellucco and Saidhujaeva own two wins over top-50 opponents and wins in five of their past seven matches at No. 1 doubles. They finished the fall 2019 season No. 28 in the ITA rankings before COVID-19 cut their 2020 spring short.
 
"It was a pretty easy decision to start them up at again No. 1 this year," Wichita State coach Colin Foster said. "They're clicking. When you play enough matches together, which they've now done the past two years, you naturally develop that chemistry, knowing what your partner is going to do with that ball."
 
Bellucco's versatility and consistency make her a strong doubles play. Her growth over the years of a Shocker has come in her willingness to play aggressively.
 
"She can be the one that sets up, whether it was (Bizhukova) or Sarvi, as the net player to take some risks," Foster said. "At the net, she is obviously capable and does well to take risks and that's the biggest thing, especially at No. 1 doubles, is being willing to take risks. The more success she's had, the more willing she is to take those risks in those big moments."
 
Their partnership went through ups and downs as they merged their games and personalities. This season, their connection is strong as they learned patience and understanding through wins and losses.
 
"We worked on our relationship, thinking the same way and the strategies, the technical, practical things on the court," Saidhujaeva said. "If I'm down, I get support from her. If I feel like she's down, I have to support her. Our support of each other helps us play better."
 
Bellucco's career lasted much longer than she thought. It took, in the memory of Foster, about a week after her arrival in Wichita for Bellucco to ask to meet and tell him she wanted to stay. 
 
In Italy, she studied international marketing and felt reluctant to interrupt her academics at the university to come to the United States. Academics are separated from athletics in Italian universities, which can limit the opportunities for athletes who don't turn professional. 
 
"When I went to the university, I really wanted to prove myself," she said. "University in Italy is very tough. You go to class the whole semester and you give exams at the end, but it is just one exam and you pass or you fail. I really wanted to prove myself and finish the university."
 
Bellucco gave Wichita State a shot at the urging of former Shockers Giulia Guidetti and Rebecca Pedrazzi, both also from Italy. Her experience with Foster and Wichita State professors helped her develop an affection for the tennis program and her studies.
 
At Wichita State, she majored in marketing with a minor in management. She is pursuing a master of science in management science and supply chain management. She has a job in Tennessee waiting for her in August with a company that makes porcelain tiles.
 
"Colin was so nice and he's a great coach, so I was like 'I like it here. Why would I want to go to back?'" she said. 
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.