NEWS

Matt Coppola* just wrapped up one of the most significant seasons of his polo career — and his life. As the only American on the La Dolfina/Tamera lineup, Coppola achieved what every American professional player dreams of: lifting the U.S. Open Polo Championship trophy. The win marked Coppola’s second U.S. Open title and first competing in the final match, a milestone that came after years of hard work. Alongside polo legend Adolfo Cambiaso, Alejandro Poma and Diego Cavanagh, Coppola helped guide the team to a 12-8 victory over La Dolfina/Catamount — sealing the game with the last goal himself.

This year’s Gauntlet of Polo presented by TruBar showcased intense competition and La Dolfina/Tamera rose to the occasion. The team opened the season at the National Polo Center - Wellington with a win in the C.V. Whitney Cup and built momentum throughout the weeks, hitting its peak when it mattered most. For Coppola, the experience was about more than performance on the field — it was about proving himself at the highest level of the sport and learning from one of the greatest players in polo history.

The final of the U.S. Open added another layer of intrigue as La Dolfina/Tamera went head-to-head against a familiar opponent — La Dolfina/Catamount, led by none other than Poroto Cambiaso, Adolfo’s son. Both teams had trained together and knew each other’s strategies inside and out, making it a mentally demanding match. For Coppola, the key to victory was timing: the team’s horses were at their best during the final stretch of the tournament and the group had grown into a cohesive, confident unit. That polish showed on the field — and it paid off with the most prestigious title in American polo.

Adding to the emotion of the moment, Coppola had recently become a father. Just weeks before the tournament, he and his wife, Sol, welcomed their first child, Crew Anthony. Balancing family life with the pressure of high-stakes competition was not easy, but Coppola called it the most rewarding time of his life. Now that the Gauntlet is behind him, he now turns his sights to the summer season in Aiken, South Carolina, and Santa Barbara, California.

You scored the final goal that sealed the 12-8 win — can you take us through that moment? What were you thinking or feeling when the ball went through?
“Scoring that last goal, knowing there wasn’t much time left and that we were up by four, was incredible. At that point, I knew that the game was pretty much over, and all the emotions started to kick in.”

This season has been incredible for you, winning both the C.V. Whitney Cup and U.S. Open. How would you describe your Gauntlet journey?
“I think that the Gauntlet of Polo was very competitive this year. For me, it was incredible to win two out of three tournaments. I'm very happy about it and it makes me feel that the hard work is paying off.”

You were the only American player on La Dolfina/Tamera. How does it feel to represent the U.S.?
“Every team needs an American to play in the United States. To be the American who got the chance to play with La Dolfina Tamera was a huge success for me and something I've been looking forward to for a long time.”

What was the mindset going into a final against another La Dolfina team?
“Going into the final, knowing we were playing against La Dolfina/Catamount and that we shared a lot of time with that team, practices with and against, we knew in advance that it was going to be a tough game. It was very incredible to have both Poroto and Adolfo getting into the final on different teams and for the whole organization behind them, it was an incredible experience overall.”

What were the keys to your team’s success in the final?
“I think that the team was starting to peak in the U.S. Open. I think that we started to play our best polo. I think that our horses were at the best point of the season from the quarterfinals on. I think both things were a huge advantage for us, and that’s something I learnt a lot from everybody there in La Dolfina/Tamera, to know how to make the horses reach the end of the season with the same amount of power as the first game and stamina, that was a huge key in our success to win it.”

You recently became a father. How special is it to win the U.S. Open with this new chapter in your life?
“Winning the U.S. Open is amazing. I became a father a month before, so it was an incredible experience. It’s very stressful having to ride, play and take care of the baby, but I wouldn't change it for anything. This is the best year of my life.

What’s next for you after this incredible season? What goals are you setting for the rest of the year?
I’m going to Aiken, South Carolina, to play there for two months. After that, I will go to Santa Barbara, California, to play the Silver Cup and the Pacific Coast Open, so I’m looking forward to that. I will be able to play with Cambiaso in California too, so I think that’s something I’m looking forward to, to be able to learn from him and be around him. His mindset is something that I admire, so I want to be able to learn from him and soak it all in because it’s an opportunity and an experience that not many people get. I’m really lucky and blessed.”

*Matt Coppola is Team USPA alumnus. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.

All photos courtesy of ©David Lominska.