Recent tennis films like Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers and Reinaldo Marcus Green’s King Richard have brought fresh energy to the genre, and at first glance, Andrea Di Stefano’s coming-of-age comedy seems poised to join them. Di Stefano, an Italian actor turned director, delivers a film that starts with promise, thanks largely to a strong lead performance by Pierfrancesco Favino—a seasoned, charismatic presence in Italian cinema. But the movie falters badly in its final act, struggling to decide whether it wants to follow the classic underdog sports story or critique the “win-at-all-costs” mentality it initially questions. Another central tension involves whether the young protagonist should heed his father’s advice or follow his flashy but flawed new coach. While the film eventually takes a stand on this, the resolution feels unsatisfying and unconvincing, capped by an ill-considered wink to the camera that falls flat.
Set in the early 1980s, the story centers on Felice, a 13-year-old played by Tiziano Menichelli, who has been rigorously trained by his father to compete in Italy’s lower-tier regional tennis circuit. Felice models his game on Ivan Lendl’s steady, baseline-heavy style, using relentless consistency to wear down opponents. Eager for his son to reach the national level, the father hires a professional coach despite the family’s financial strain. That coach is Raul “the Cat” Gatti, portrayed with roguish charm by Favino—a former tennis star who once reached the last 16 of a major tournament and graced gossip magazines, but whose career was derailed by drinking and womanizing. Now broke and fresh out of rehab (a subject the film handles with surprisingly glib humor), Raul needs the money.
On the road for the national under-16 tour, Raul urges Felice to abandon Lendl’s conservative approach and instead emulate the flamboyant Guillermo Vilas, an Argentine player known for his glamorous lifestyle and love of nightlife. But Felice, earnest and disciplined, struggles to adapt. His baseline game begins to falter against more aggressive opponents, and he’s pushed to take risks—both on the court and in life.
The setup suggests a warm, sentimental comedy, but the film never quite delivers. As it moves toward the finish, Felice neither wins matches nor gains meaningful insight off the court, and Raul’s personal struggles prove deeper and more serious than initially suggested. The story introduces numerous threads that remain unresolved. Di Stefano hints in the opening that the film draws from his own experiences, and real life can indeed be messy and resist tidy Hollywood endings. Still, the script would have benefited from sharper focus and revision. My Tennis Maestro premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful FAQs about the film My Tennis Maestro
General Beginner Questions
Q What is My Tennis Maestro about
A Its an Italian comingofage comedy about a young undisciplined tennis prodigy who is forced to train with a strict unconventional and washedup former coach to save his career
Q Is the movie based on a true story
A No it is a fictional narrative though it draws on familiar sports movie tropes and the very real highpressure world of competitive tennis
Q Is the movie in English or Italian
A It is an Italian film You will most likely watch it with subtitles or an English dub depending on your platform
Q Who are the main actors
A The film stars Andrea Arru and Stefano Accorsi in the lead roles of the young tennis player and his gruff coach respectively
Critical Reception Unforced Errors
Q The review mentions unforced errors What does that mean in this context
A In tennis an unforced error is a mistake a player makes entirely on their own not because of the opponents great shot The review uses this term metaphorically to say the movie makes its own avoidable mistakes that hold it back from being truly great
Q So is the movie good or bad
A Its generally seen as a decent but flawed film It has a lot of heart charm and funny moments but its let down by some predictable plot points clichés or underdeveloped characters
Q What are the movies biggest strengths
A Most reviews praise the chemistry between the two lead actors the authentic tennis scenes and its feelgood underdog spirit Its a fun and lighthearted sports comedy
Q What are the specific unforced errors critics point to
A Common criticisms include a formulaic and predictable plot that follows the standard sports movie blueprint too closely and some character arcs or subplots that might feel rushed or clichéd
Viewing Recommendations
Q Will I like it if I dont like tennis
A Probably While tennis is the setting the core of the movie is about the
