On the eve of his match against Rublev, the Italian player found himself without his specialized shoes, which are no longer in production. After resolving the problem immediately, he posted a plea on social media

Matteo Arnaldi’s first Grand Slam of 2026 got off to a decidedly unusual start. It was a long and unexpected journey, beginning in a small town in Poland and ending in Melbourne, with a most unexpected protagonist: a pair of shoes. On the eve of his Australian Open debut against Andrey Rublev—a match he ultimately lost in three sets—the Italian tennis player found himself without his specific shoes, the Asics Solution Speed FF 2. This model is essential for managing his injuries but is now discontinued. This led to a significant logistical setback, resolved in a way that was as effective as it was curious: thanks to a ride on BlaBlaCar.

As reported by The First Serve, the shoes were no longer available in Australia. With the help of his coach, Marcel du Coudray, however, Arnaldi managed to track down four pairs in a small shop in Czestochowa, near Warsaw. Since it was Saturday, traditional shipping would have been complicated, so the shoes made their way to Warsaw via BlaBlaCar. From there, thanks to the help of a friend of the coach’s who works with the Polish tennis federation, they were loaded onto a flight bound for Melbourne, arriving on Sunday in time for his debut—though without the hoped-for athletic impact.

the appeal—  The story, however, didn’t end in Melbourne. The model is no longer in production, and the tennis player from Sanremo still needs those shoes. Hence the decision to launch an appeal: to ask on social media for a pair of Asics Solution Speed FF 2, size 45. Arnaldi has promised an autographed jersey to whoever manages to get them for him. A story that shows that tennis is also about this: a matter of details, which are sometimes decisive.