Roger Federer has suggested that he has doubts over competing at the Tokyo Olympics this year, with uncertainty over whether fans will be allowed inside the venues.
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Monday 31 May 2021
Roger Federer agrees with Novak Djokovic over Tokyo Olympics doubts
Roger Federer has suggested that he has doubts over competing at the Tokyo Olympics this year, with uncertainty over whether fans will be allowed inside the venues.
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Musetti After Goffin Win: 'This Is Proof I Have The Level'
Lorenzo Musetti made a splash in his Grand Slam main draw debut Monday evening when he beat 13th seed David Goffin 6-0, 7-5, 7-6(3) to reach the second round at Roland Garros.
Nine months ago, the #NextGenATP Italian was still outside the Top 250 of the FedEx ATP Rankings. But now the World No. 76, he has proven a tough foe for any opponent, dismissing 2016 quarter-finalist Goffin after two hours and 18 minutes.
"I think this is the proof that I have the level. Sometimes when I am not focussed and not playing really good, of course my level is not like today. For sure I am playing better when I'm without pressure because today, I was playing really relaxed," Musetti said. "Of course, it was not easy to win even if I was relaxed. When you play against the [No.]13 in the world, it's not the same thing [like] playing [someone] worse than you [in] the rankings that you must [beat]."
Despite a slow start, Belgian put pressure on the 19-year-old, breaking the Italian when he served for the match twice in the third set. But Musetti did not fold, aggressively finishing the match with impressive shotmaking to advance in Paris.
"I was a little bit under pressure when I was serving for the match. He was always returning from the baseline really close to the line. He was giving me a lot of pressure," Musetti said. "I just stayed calm and tried to think at each point, like the last one. I tried to [not] speak, [not] talk. It worked. I am happy about that."
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Musetti broke serve six times and saved six of the eight break points he faced. Goffin, who made it to at least the third round here in five of the past six years, made 48 unforced errors, nearly doubling his opponent's count (27). The 2017 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up felt the level on both sides was best towards the end of the match.
"I think the match started too late on my side. And then of course when you start too late and you have an opportunity and you just have one, if you don't take it, then it's too late," Goffin said. "Then he finished it really well in the tie-break. But I think at the end, he was just solid. He played high, he served well, played higher with some spin and waiting for the mistake or the opportunity just to go for his shot."
The #NextGenATP star will next play Yoshihito Nishioka, who battled past former World No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(5).
"It was a tough game for me. For sure everybody loves him. Everyone was hoping he was going to beat me. But I was trying [to play] my best tennis, [the best] I can do right now," Nishioka said on court. "It was not an easy game... [I am] very happy to be through to the second round."
Nishioka beat Musetti 6-3, 6-2 in their only previous ATP Head2Head meeting last week in Parma.
Did You Know?
This was Musetti's fifth win of the season against a Top 20 opponent.
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Federer Still Learning At 39: 'I Have To Tell Myself To Slow Down'
Roger Federer used the disappointment of an early exit at the Gonet Geneva Open to trigger a positive response on his first appearance at Roland Garros for two years.
“I just felt overall much clearer, much better,” said Federer, who beat Denis Istomin 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 in the first round. “I think [I’m] getting used to tournament and match rhythm again, the whole thing – the towels there, the shot clock there and everything that goes with it. I really felt like I didn’t find the rhythm [in Geneva].”
Two weeks ago, Federer lost to Pablo Andujar at the ATP 250 tournament in Geneva. It was just his third tour-level match of the season, following two right knee surgeries last year.
“I always struggle early on with my returning a little bit on clay,” admitted Federer, the 2009 Roland Garros champion. “Funny enough, you would think it's the easier surface to return [on]. I don't mind the grass-court and hard-court returns, as I'm blocking it more than hitting it.”
“I felt today I really made a bigger effort of going more in swings and not going through [the motions] like in the practice, where you just go point for point for point – let's play a maximum amount of points. I sometimes have to tell myself, 'Take a little bit of time, walk to the towel, do something different'. You might think it's silly, but it's true.”
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Federer, who is tied with joint record-holder Rafael Nadal on 20 Grand Slam singles each, reached the 2019 semi-finals (l. to Nadal) when he last played on Parisian clay.
“For me coming back after many months or over a year of rehab, the light at the end of the tunnel or the measuring stick was always: Can I come back to a good level against good players? I hope Wimbledon is going to be that place. Maybe there's going to be even something here in Paris. We'll see.”
The 39-year-old is in the same half of the Roland Garros draw as his great rivals, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and 13-time champion Rafael Nadal.
“I hope I can stay healthy from now on forward,” said Federer, who plays Croatia's Marin Cilic in the second round. “I'm quite confident that's going to stay that way. I've also been getting better every month that’s [gone] by, which has been really positive. I didn't have any setbacks in a year."
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Naomi Osaka pulls out of French Open after being fined £12.9k
BREAKING: Naomi Osaka has announced she is withdrawing from the 2021 French Open.
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#NextGenATP Alcaraz Checks Off Another First At Roland Garros
#NextGenATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz notched another career first on Monday when he earned his maiden berth into the second round at Roland Garros.
The 18-year-old, who cracked the Top 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings for the first time last week, defeated fellow qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(4). Alcaraz trailed by a break in the fourth set, but he clawed back to triumph after three hours and eight minutes.
The teen sensation has now not just successfully qualified at the season's first two Grand Slams, but he has also won a match in the main draw as well. Alcaraz earned momentum heading into the clay-court major by claiming an ATP Challenger Tour title in Oeiras, Portugal two weeks ago.
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Alcaraz showed impressive resilience against his countryman, who beat him in a Challenger final last September. Zapata Miralles seemingly had an answer for every Alcaraz surge, but the #NextGenATP star made his stand in the fourth-set tie-break. The World No. 97 hit 41 winners and broke serve eight times to earn a match against big-hitting Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili.
The 28th seed beat 2019 Monte-Carlo finalist Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-3, 0-6, 6-2. Basilashvili had not won a match at Roland Garros since making the third round in 2017.
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Medvedev: 'I'm Capable of Doing Big Things'
Daniil Medvedev got a much-needed confidence boost on Monday that he can replicate his hard-court success on the clay of Roland Garros.
“I feel really hopeful,” said Medvedev, after a 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Alexander Bublik. You could see it today in the match, I'm feeling that here, at least this year with this weather, with these balls, I can play like on hard courts. It doesn't feel different than the Australian Open for me coming into this tournament.
“Now, when I'm coming to these big tournaments feeling like this, I know I'm capable of doing big things. [At the] Australian Open I was in the final. If I lose here in Roland Garros, it's probably going to be because my opponent will play really good. As I said, I feel very confident, I move well, slide well… So I'm feeling great.”
Medvedev led Russia to the ATP Cup crown prior to a run to the Australian Open final (l. to Djokovic) in February. He captured his 10th ATP Tour title at the Open 13 Provence in Marseille (d. Herbert) one month later and is currently 19-5 on the season.
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Medvedev’s reward for a first victory at Roland Garros on his fifth visit to Paris will be a second-round meeting with American Tommy Paul.
“[It] feels great,” said Medvedev. “But most important is the level of tennis. I've been showing, as I said before the tournament, it was not mind games. My opponent can see I was really feeling good. I managed to play consistent today. I actually played much better in practice than today, so there is room for improvement.
“That was one of not many matches where I was really tight. Hopefully, it can be only better for the next rounds. As I say, [I’m] really happy first of all with the win and then with my level of play also.”
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With Nadal Looming, Djokovic Focusing On 'One Day At A Time'
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic says that he is “in a good state of mind and body” in his bid to capture a second Roland Garros crown.
“The win in Belgrade gave me great preparation,” the 34-year-old said. “I’m in a good state of mind and body, striking the ball well. Now it’s really about just taking it step by step, being in the present moment [and] trying to build the form so I can play better and better as the tournament progresses.”
The Serbian superstar came into the clay-court Grand Slam on the back of beating Alex Molcan 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday in the Belgrade Open final. He has a 20-3 record on the season, including his 18th major crown in February with his ninth Australian Open title.
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Djokovic has been placed in the same quarter of the draw as Roger Federer, who opened his Roland Garros campaign with a 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Denis Istomin on Monday in Paris. The 2016 titlist could face Rafael Nadal, the 13-time champion, in the semi-finals.
“When you speak about Rafa, you know that he's always going to give you his best on any surface,” said Djokovic, who leads Nadal 29-28 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series. “He's always going to produce some great quality tennis, particularly on clay. That's his most preferred surface. That's where he's always at his best.
“Record-wise [in the] past four or five matches that I lost to him on clay, some close ones, some that he dominated, was probably due to the level of tennis that I played. That [I] just wasn't meeting his level, when his level on clay is always there, always very high."
Nadal leads Djokovic 19-7 in clay-court matches, including victories in their past six matches.
“If you don't produce a high level of performance on this surface, you have no chance to win the match on this surface against him." said Djokovic. "I know there's a build-up potentially for that match-up in semi-finals. There's a lot of obstacles to overcome for both of us. If we get there, of course I know what [is] expected [of] me and I know what I need to do.
“Last year, I had a great tournament, but in the [Roland Garros] final he was just playing amazing tennis and I couldn't do much. Hopefully, if I get a chance to play him another time here, the level of my tennis will be different because, like in Rome, for example, [it] was very close until the last shot… [The] final in Rome gives me good sensation and kind of [a] good feeling prior to potential match-up here. But I [will] try to focus [on] one day at a time. I'm sure he will do too.”
Djokovic will play his first-round match on Wednesday night from 9pm against American Tennys Sandgren.
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Roger Federer might not win the French Open, but he can still derail his rivals' chances
Players will want to avoid Roger Federer at this year's French Open after he made a winning return to Grand Slam tennis.
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Novak Djokovic targeting semi-final payback against Rafael Nadal at French Open
Novak Djokovic wants the chance to gain revenge on Rafa Nadal for his French Open final thrashing last year.
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Can You Pass Rafa's Roland Garros Challenge?
Is there a feat more difficult than beating Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros? Starting with his winning debut in 2005, Nadal has clinched a record 13 titles at the clay-court major. His most recent triumph this past October in Paris lifted the Spaniard to a 100-2 tournament match record, as well as a record-tying 20th Grand Slam title.
“I don’t think we’ll see anything similar in our lives... His record at Roland Garros is astonishing and it will not be repeated,” said Roberto Bautista Agut, as he joined fellow Spaniards in paying tribute to Nadal's accomplishments.
As Nadal goes for a 14th title in Paris this coming fortnight, facing a challenging half of the draw that includes long-time rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, we put you to the test to see if you can recall who he's beaten in a championship match at Roland Garros. Of the seven different players, some may be easy to identify – such as the one he faced in four finals – but can you remember who Nadal defeated to win his first major title here, two days after his 19th birthday?
Take Rafa's Roland Garros Challenge, share your results and challenge your friends!
Did You Know?
Since 2005, only three other players – Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka – have won the Roland Garros title.
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Back With A Bang! Federer Fights Past Istomin In Paris
Playing in his fourth match of the year and at only his third tournament, former World No. 1 Roger Federer wasted no time getting back to his winning ways at Roland Garros. The eighth seed was on song against qualifier Denis Istomin on Monday, claiming a 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 victory to reach the second round.
The 2009 Roland Garros champion has been keeping his expectations in check ahead of the year’s second Grand Slam tournament. Federer, who underwent two knee surgeries last year and was sidelined for most of the abbreviated 2020 season, made his return to action at ATP 250 events in Doha and Geneva, where he amassed a 1-2 record.
But he shook off the rust in style against Istomin on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Federer didn’t face a break point across three sets, and extended his ATP Head2Head dominance over the Uzbek player to 8-0.
Federer awaits the winner of French wild card Arthur Rinderknech and 2014 US Open winner Marin Cilic in the second round. It would be the Swiss’ first meeting with Rinderknech, and his 11th time facing Cilic (9-1) in a rematch of the 2017 Wimbledon final and 2018 Australian Open final (both won by Federer).
Should Federer go on to lift his second Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy next week, he would become the first man in the Open Era to win every Grand Slam championship twice.
You just love to see it 😍#RolandGarros | @rogerfederer pic.twitter.com/4SXeIdPxqP
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 31, 2021
Federer took control of the rallies with his serve against Istomin, leaving the Uzbek under pressure and with few opportunities to do damage. He won 80 per cent (37/46) of points behind his first serve, and 79 per cent (15/19) of his second serve points.
The Swiss set the tone early on with a break to 15 in the first game, and he never looked back, finding his range as the match went on. The eighth seed found 48 winners, including eight aces, in the match, with 15 of those coming in the 22-minute opening set.
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Istomin did well to hang with Federer in the second and third sets, targeting his opponent’s one-handed backhand. He saved four of five break points in the second set, but couldn’t hold back the 18-time Grand Slam winner as he took the lead again at 2-1. Federer reeled off five of the last six games in the third set to close out the match after an hour and 33 minutes.
Did You Know?
Federer has now won 29 of his 30 meetings with qualifiers at the majors. His only defeat to a qualifier at a Grand Slam came against Mario Ancic in the first round at 2002 Wimbledon.
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Opelka Leads American Charge Into Second Round At Roland Garros
It's not often Reilly Opelka breaks serve seven times in a match, but the American did just that in a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win against Andrej Martin on Monday to lead several Americans into the second round at Roland Garros.
The 32nd seed is known for his booming serve, but against Martin he only hit 10 aces. More notably, the American won 50 per cent of his return points.
"I didn't have my best serving day. I was starting to find it a little bit as the match went on, but I was kind of resting my arm leading up to it. I didn't get the same amount of reps that I would like to on my serve. But I definitely wasn't hitting my spots, so a lot of balls came back and I had to play a lot of tennis today," Opelka said. "I'm very, very happy that I was able to stay aggressive. A lot of times it's easy to lose the aggressive mindset when your biggest weapon is not firing."
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Opelka will next play a baseliner in Jaume Munar or Jordan Thompson. The two-time ATP Tour titlist was pleased he was able to compete so well from the baseline, but he is also keen to bring all parts of his game to the court moving forward in the tournament.
"It definitely helps my confidence. Andrej Martin is a tough player, but I think it does cap out at a certain level, unfortunately. A guy like Jannik Sinner or a guy like Felix [Auger-Aliassime], it would have been a different scenario. It's not something I want to rely on," said Opelka, who is in second seed Daniil Medvedev's section of the draw. "To beat a guy like Jannik here, I have to be serving well and playing well from the back and volleying well.
"I do like that the things that usually are on weren't today and I still won and the things that usually I struggle with, it wasn't the case today."
Two Americans won five-setters on Monday. Steve Johnson came from two sets down to defeat countryman Frances Tiafoe 6-7(5), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 after three hours and 11 minutes to reach the second round on the Parisian clay for the fifth time. The World No. 88 will next play Brazilian Thiago Monteiro, who eliminated lucky loser Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
Read Monteiro's My Point: Why Family Is More Than Blood
Tommy Paul was on the opposite end of the spectrum, leading Christopher O'Connell two sets to none. The 24-year-old held off the Aussie's spirited comeback in a 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6, 10-8 triumph after three hours and 33 minutes. Paul will challenge Medvedev in the next round.
#NextGenATP American Sebastian Korda arrived in Paris with momentum after lifting his first ATP Tour trophy on Saturday in Parma. The 20-year-old also made the fourth round at Roland Garros last year. But he fell against the man he defeated in the third round here in 2020. Spaniard Pedro Martinez ousted Korda 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 to set a showdown against fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
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Roger Federer means business with classy French Open win over Denis Istomin
Roger Federer is competing at the French Open for the first time since 2019.
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Rafael Nadal's 'positive energy' hailed by women's champion Iga Swiatek at French Open
Reigning French Open women's champion Iga Swiatek has spoken about her recent practice with Rafael Nadal.
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The Nomadic Life With... Richard Gasquet
Frenchman Richard Gasquet is set to compete at Roland Garros for the 18th time, and he will begin his run on Tuesday against countryman Hugo Gaston.
Before the match, ATPTour.com caught up with the former World No. 7 to learn more about his life on the ATP Tour, from the game he plays on the road to how travel has changed for him over the years.
What is a non-tennis item you always pack for trips?
Cards. We play a lot of cards. We play a French game called Belote. We play it for two or three hours a day with my coach and some other French players. That’s important for me.
What item did you forget to bring one time that caused you distress?
[I do not forget] so much. I’m very careful, especially with my passport. That’s very important when you travel. My phone and other things I’m very careful with.
Do you enjoy travelling the world or consider it just something that needs to be done to be a pro tennis player? If you do enjoy it, what do you enjoy about travelling?
It depends on the place. I like to go to New York for the US Open and even London for Wimbledon. In France, I like to of course go to Marseille and Montpellier, those kinds of tournaments. I know many people there, so I’m very happy to go.
It depends where I have to go. Now it’s starting to be difficult. Long travels like to Australia — of course I’m very happy to be in Australia — but to travel, to do 22 hours is going to be more and more difficult for me.
Can you talk about a time you decided to play a specific tournament in part because you wanted to travel to that city?
I have not done that so much. But when I have to come back to New York, when I go to Miami, even Tokyo [I like those places]. I’m very happy to go to Japan. I prefer to play in Japan, so that’s why I go there.
As a tennis player, maintaining your body is of the utmost importance, so how do you take care of it during long trips?
Now it’s starting to be more and more difficult. I’m going to Australia and I need five or six days to recover [after the trip]. Before, when I was 20 years old, one, two or three days was okay. But now, it’s difficult for me to recover after a long trip.
How do you try to overcome jetlag and acclimate to the local time zone?
It’s the same as travel. It is a little bit more difficult. When I was younger, it was easy. The day after I was ready even if I had a long flight. Now it’s more and more difficult and that annoys me. That’s a little bit tough for me.
You mentioned before that you play cards. What else do you do to create a sense of ‘home on the road’ to feel more comfortable?
[In normal times] we go to restaurants to go to dinner, go sightseeing a little bit. I like to do it, but of course now with the situation that’s tough.
Where is your favourite vacation destination?
I don’t go far. I go to the south of France because I was born there. I like to stay home because I’m travelling a lot.
What’s your trick to be comfortable during a flight?
I try to have a good book. It’s important to read on a plane because it’s long. Sometimes I take a sleeping pill when it’s a long flight because I [can’t] sleep on the plane. Some players sleep easily, but for me it’s very difficult.
Are you someone who gets to the airport with lots of time to spare or do you cut it fine?
I’ve never missed a flight. I’ve been playing a long time. For 20 years I’ve been on the Tour, but I’ve never missed a flight. I like to get there early.
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Medvedev Records First Win At Roland Garros
Daniil Medvedev recorded his first win at Roland Garros on his fifth attempt as he swept aside Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 on Monday in Paris.
The second-seeded Russian star came into the clay-court major with a 1-3 record this year on clay, with his sole victory coming over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Mutua Madrid Open. However, Medvedev comfortably overcame World No. 37 Bublik to set up a second round clash against Tommy Paul or Christopher O'Connell.
After a lively start to the contest, where both players broke their opponents serve, mistakes started to leak off Bublik’s racquet as Medvedev pulled away for a 4-2 lead. The World No. 2 continued to dominate proceedings, winning 10 of 12 points on Bublik’s second serve in the first set, with the 23-year-old committing 19 unforced errors. While serving at 3-5, Bublik tamely handed Medvedev the opener as he double faulted for the third time in the set.
Medvedev stormed into a 4-0 lead in the second set, as he continued to capitalise on Bulbik’s poor serving display. Bublik managed to gain one of the break’s back and did save two set points at 2-5 after Medvedev had conjured up the second of those with a sensational cross-court forehand. However, his parity was short-lived as Medvedev moved to within one set of victory when Bublik mis-timed a forehand long in the following game.
Bublik’s deft touch and variety around the net started to cause the Russian a few more problems at the beginning of the third set. This, combined with greater discipline on his groundstrokes saw Bublik break the Medvedev serve at his third opportunity to move 5-3 ahead. Back-to-back double faults from 30/30 saw Medvedev respond immediately and he broke again, prior to holding to love and closing out victory in one hours and 54 minutes.
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Dominic Thiem's French Open woes a 'big surprise' as Austrian 'not as motivated as before'
Mats Wilander thinks Dominic Thiem is lacking motivation after crashing out early at the French Open.
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Sinner Saves 1 M.P., Beats Herbert At Roland Garros
Jannik Sinner won a fifth set for the first time in his career on Monday, saving one match point at 4-5 in the fourth set against Pierre-Hugues Herbert, for a place in the Roland Garros second round.
The #NextGenATP Italian looked to be heading for an early exit in Paris, but he recovered his game late in the fourth set to win five straight games en route to a 6-1, 4-6, 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-4 comeback victory over three hours and 33 minutes on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
"When I saw the draw and his name, I knew it would be tough," said Sinner, who saved the match point when Herbert hit a backhand wide. "I knew the crowd was for him, but thank you for coming out to support us. It's a crazy sport and today I am happy it went my way. I have survived and happy to be in the next round. It was tough."
Sinner, who captured his second ATP Tour title in February at the Great Ocean Road Open (d. Travaglia), is now 22-10 on the season. The No. 18 seed will next play compatriot Gianluca Mager, who was a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 victor over lucky loser Peter Gojowczyk of Germany in two hours and 36 minutes.
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Sinner broke three times in the first set, which lasted just 23 minutes, and did not drop a point on first serve. Herbert raised his game in the second set, which saw an early exchange of breaks, before the World No. 85 won three straight games from 2-3. While Herbert could not convert a set point at 5-3, with Sinner serving at Ad-Out, but he later closed out the 38-minute set with a solid hold.
Herbert carried the momentum into the third set, looking a real threat with his all-court game. He took a 5-2 lead with a backhand winner down the line, but endured a tense finale when Sinner won four straight games for a 6-5 advantage. Herbert came through the wobble with a great response in the tie-break that ended with a serve-volley winner.
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Sinner saved five break points at 3-3 in the fourth set and a match point at 4-5, 30/40, when Herbert struck a backhand wide. It sparked Sinner back to near his best level and minutes later he broke Herbert with a big forehand return winner down the line. The Italian came through the bombardment and forced an error to break in the first game of the decider.
From 4-5 down in the second set, 19-year-old Sinner won five straight games and remained in control in spite of French support for Herbert, who saved one set point with an ace at 4-5. Sinner, who broke into the Top 20 of the FedEx ATP Rankings last month, finished the match with 43 winners. Last year, he reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final at Roland Garros, losing to Rafael Nadal.
Herbert, who lost to Sinner in Cologne last year, is now 8-10 in 2021. He had been bidding to record his second Top 20 victory in his past 15 matches. The 30-year-old beat World No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to the Open 13 Provence quarter-finals in Marseille earlier this season.
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Roger Federer backed to do 'something really good' at French Open as Swiss in strong shape
Gael Monfils is confident that Roger Federer is in good shape at Roland Garros.
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Naomi Osaka's sister explains reasons behind her French Open media snub amid criticism
Naomi Osaka has come in for criticism for refusing to speak to the media at the French Open.
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Korda Breaks Into Top 50, Mover Of Week
No. 50 Sebastian Korda, +13 (Career-High)
The #NextGenATP American captured his first ATP Tour title on Saturday at the Emilia-Romagna Open in Parma. Read Final Report & Watch Highlights
Korda, who reached his first final at the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com (l. to Hurkacz) in January, rises 13 places to a career-high No. 50 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. The 20-year-old started the 2021 season at No. 118.
View Latest FedEx ATP Rankings
No. 83 Marco Cecchinato, +21
The Italian, who dropped to 3-2 in ATP Tour finals after his runner-up finish to Korda in Parma, has returned to the Top 100 for the first time since the week beginning 26 April. Cecchinato attained a career-high of No. 16 on 25 February 2019.
Other Notable Top 100 Movers
No. 52 Tommy Paul, +3
No. 72 Jaume Munar, +8
No. 81 Norbert Gombos, +6
No. 99 Fernando Verdasco, +8
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French Open prize money: How much Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic can earn
The 2021 French Open kicked off on Sunday, where Rafael Nadal is chasing history.
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Sunday 30 May 2021
Roger Federer vs Denis Istomin free live stream: How to watch French Open clash
Roger Federer live stream: How to watch Australian Open clash with Steve Johnson
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Elias Returns To Winners' Circle After Nearly Four Years
For the first time in 2021, Portugal has a champion on the ATP Challenger Tour. At the age of 30, Gastao Elias found his way back to the winners' circle with an impressive week on home soil in Oeiras.
Elias, who peaked at No. 57 in the FedEx ATP Rankings in 2016, has fallen on hard times in recent years following a rash of injuries. But the Lourinha native rediscovered his winning formula at the Oeiras Open 50, lifting his first trophy since 2017.
"I had total confidence in my abilities and didn't need the title to know that I still had it in me," said Elias. "I knew that if I could get back in shape and have the opportunity to compete in Challengers I could do it again.
"I never had the opportunity to win and enjoy a title like this in home soil. I've had some great wins over the years and perhaps even more exciting victories, but a title is a title and it's still a relatively important tournament, so I am very happy. I've been wanting to win one of these in Portugal for a while."
Photo: Sara Falcao
Elias was battle tested all week, securing three straight wins from a set down. In Friday's quarter-finals, he rallied past Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-7(0), 6-3, 6-0 and in Saturday's semis he overcame countryman Nuno Borges 4-6, 7-5, 0-0 (ret.). The Portuguese veteran would outlast Danish teen Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 for the championship on Sunday. Elias' victory is his eighth on the ATP Challenger Tour and first on home soil.
"I feel very good about winning a match that I felt was getting too complicated," Elias reflected. "It could have been simpler if I had taken my chances in the opening games of the sets, but it ended up having a tense outcome.
"Yesterday he had cramps and I knew that if I managed to make the points longer and more intense and giving him less time to breathe it would be good for me. But he was able to impose himself on my style of play and was very aggressive and strong at the beginning of the points, which complicated my life."
✅ First singles title since 2017 (Campinas)@GastaoElias is the champion in Oeiras, defeating Rune 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the final#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/Glghr59kxK
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 30, 2021
The tournament is the culmination of a memorable run of four Challenger events in Portugal in 2021. In April, Zdenek Kolar triumphed at Oeiras 1 and was followed by Argentina's Pedro Cachin a week later at Oeiras 2. Last week, 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz triumphed at Oeiras 3 and it all wrapped with a home grown champion in Elias at Oeiras 4.
"I'm not sure if I'm already in Wimbledon qualies but now the goal is getting back to Grand Slam qualifying. I'm not sure if I can get to Wimbledon, but if so I'll have to go after white clothes because right now I don't have any."
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How Thiem Stunner Nearly Cost Zverev
Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem, who were potential quarter-final opponents at Roland Garros, practised together on Saturday. But by the time Zverev took to Court Suzanne-Lenglen on Sunday for his first-round match, two-time finalist Thiem was already eliminated. Considering the Austrian had made at least the quarter-finals in Paris in his past five appearances, that was jarring for Zverev.
For a moment, it appeared Zverev was in trouble, too. The sixth seed quickly fell two sets down against fellow German Oscar Otte, and he admitted that the Thiem stunner potentially had something to do with it.
“To be very honest, I think it did have a little impact on me at the beginning of the match, because yes, you try to focus on yourself, you try to not pay too much attention, but you do know the draw,” Zverev said. “You know who is where. You know that Dominic is one of the best clay-court players, especially here, one of the toughest opponents you can have, and then he's out.
“So yes, it does affect you a little bit. But maybe that was part of the reason why I was a little bit nervous in the beginning [and why] I started off a little bit slow.”
Thiem had lost his opening match in Lyon against Cameron Norrie. But when Zverev trained with the fourth seed on Saturday, nothing seemed amiss.
“The way we were playing, the level was incredibly high, and he lost today,” Zverev said. “Matches and practices are still a little bit different. You still need the matches, you still need to get into the tournament. [Oscar] already had three matches, I think that's a big difference.”
Zverev forcing a fifth set in Paris?
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2021
Who would have thought 😉#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/00krXCbIVW
Instead of panicking and suffering his first opening-round exit at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2019, Zverev raised his level and triumphed 3-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-0. The two-time Roland Garros quarter-finalist is now 7-0 in five-setters at the clay-court major.
“I feel quite confident maybe in my physical stand. From that side maybe I know I can go the distance,” Zverev said. “I don't always need to. I know that, as well, but when I need to, I feel comfortable doing that.”
It wasn’t a perfect start to the tournament for the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals champion, but Zverev lives to fight another day. In the second round, he will play Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin.
“All in all, I'm happy to be through,” Zverev said. “At the end of the day, that's all that matters for me right now.”
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Preview: Federer, Medvedev Managing Expectations In Paris
After a rollercoaster opening day at Roland Garros, Day 2 will be all about managing expectations as second seed Daniil Medvedev and eighth seed Roger Federer start their campaigns in Paris.
Roland Garros will be only Federer’s third tournament of the year, and he was sidelined for most of the abbreviated 2020 season after two knee surgeries. Federer will start against Denis Istomin on Court Philippe Chatrier, and the former champion is determined to take things one match at a time.
“I’m just realistic that I know I will not win the French and whoever thought I would or could win it is wrong,” Federer said two weeks ago in Geneva. “Of course, crazier things might have happened, but I’m not so sure in the past 50 years at the French Open somebody just rocked up at 40 years old being out for a year and a half and [went] on to just win.”
It wouldn’t be the first time that Federer has defied expectations, though, and the former World No. 1 also has one of the best clay-court credentials of anyone on the ATP Tour to fall back on. Federer is third on the all-time list for the most match wins at Roland Garros with 70, only trailing 13-time winner Rafael Nadal (100) and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic (74).
Federer also owns a confidence-boosting 7-0 FedEx ATP Head2Head lead over Istomin, though they will be contesting their first meeting on clay on Monday.
When the Roland Garros singles draw was unveiled, tennis fans immediately homed in on the mouthwatering first-round encounter between second seed Medvedev and Alexander Bublik.
Second seed Medvedev, who is seeking his first win in Paris in his fifth appearance, has struggled to translate his world-beating hard-court game onto the terre-battue. But the signs are there that the Russian might be close to figuring out the right formula.
He finally broke his duck with his first victory at the Mutua Madrid Open last month (1-3), reaching the third round there for the first time. After arriving in Paris, Medvedev also issued an ominous warning in his pre-tournament presser: he’s been practising on clay, but feeling as good as he does on hard courts.
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“I have to say, my first practice [was] yesterday [and] I was playing amazing so far,” he said. “I mean, I didn't feel that it was clay. I was playing like on hard courts, and hopefully [I can] have some expectations. [The] most important thing is to play good.
“[I will face] a player that also doesn't like clay, but again, he will like the conditions here. I really like the conditions here so far, and [I am] looking forward to making a great tournament, to be honest.”
Medvedev will take a 1-0 lead in the FedEx ATP Head2Head record into his match against World No. 37 Bublik, a player with a similarly entertaining and unorthodox style of play as the Russian.
#NextGenATP Italians Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti lead the youth charge on Day 2. The 19-year-olds both arrived in Paris high on confidence after recording some of the best results of their career in the build-up to the year’s second Grand Slam tournament.
Sinner will take on Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert as they kick off the day’s action on Court Suzanne Lenglen. It will be the pair’s second meeting, with Sinner owning the 1-0 FedEx Head2Head advantage after claiming a comfortable win on the indoor hard-courts of Cologne last year.
The 18th seeded Italian, who reached the quarter-finals here last year, has continued to impress after reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Miami (l. Hurkacz). He posted a semi-final run in Barcelona (l. Tsitsipas) and it took Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to defeat him in the second rounds of Monte-Carlo and Rome, respectively.
Musetti will face 2016 Roland Garros quarter-finalist David Goffin, the 13th seed, for the first time on Court 14. The Italian, who reached the semi-finals in Lyon (l. Tsitsipas) a few weeks ago, will be making his debut at this event.
Also on tap on Monday, Casper Ruud could be in for a big test against Frenchman Benoit Paire in their first-round encounter. Ruud, who lifted his second ATP Tour trophy in Geneva two weeks ago, is sitting at a new career-high World No. 16 in the FedEx ATP Rankings and seeded 15th, his highest position at a Grand Slam to date.
Click here for the full Day 2 Order Of Play.
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Tsitsipas Overcomes Chardy Challenge In Roland Garros Opener
On an opening day full of surprises and marathons, it was business as usual for fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas as he took down Jeremy Chardy in straight sets to reach the second round at Roland Garros.
Fifth seed Tsitsipas, who reached the semi-finals here last year, has been in red-hot form throughout the clay-court season. He’s gone from strength to strength after winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, reaching the final in Barcelona (l. Nadal) and claiming his eighth ATP Tour title in Lyon.
Tsitsipas, the FedEx ATP Race to Turin leader, saved four of the five break points he faced en route to a 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-1 win over Chardy on Sunday, his 17th clay-court victory of the season.
The Greek raised his level after facing a set point during the closely contested opening set. Playing against Chardy on Court Philippe Chatrier – but without a crowd of French supporters due to Paris’ 9 pm curfew – Tsitsipas took control with an early break at 1-1.
His serve bailed him out of trouble when Chardy worked his way back into the set. Chardy levelled the score at 3-3 and pushed Tsitsipas to set point at 5-4. But the Greek fired a big unreturned first serve to get back to deuce, and closed out the game after punishing a short return with a blistering forehand winner. From 1/4 down in the tie-break, Tsitsipas won five of the next six points to retake the lead and close out the 58-minute opening set.
After the first set, Tsitsipas raised his level and never looked back. The Greek did not face a break point across the final two sets, and broke serve four more times en route to victory. Tsitsipas fired 31 winners in the match and kept his unforced error differential positive with 25, outpacing Chardy’s 25 winners and 35 unforced errors.
With his ATP Tour-leading 34th win of the season, Tsitsipas booked a spot into the second round for the fourth year in a row. He awaits the winner of #NextGenATP American Sebastian Korda, who lifted his first ATP Tour title in Parma on Saturday, and Pedro Martinez, ranked No. 103 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.
In the same quarter of the draw, 22nd seed Cristian Garin battled past Argentine Juan Ignacio Londero 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-2 after three hours and nine minutes. The Chilean is into the second round on the Parisian clay for the third straight year.
Garin has proven himself a clay-court stalwart. The 2013 Roland Garros boys’ singles champion has won all five of his ATP Tour titles on the surface, and he will next play American qualifier Mackenzie McDonald, who eliminated Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3.
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In the same section of the draw, 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov had to retire in the fourth set of his match due to a back injury. The Bulgarian led Marcos Giron 6-2, 6-4, 5-1 0/40, but the American rallied to win the set, and Dimitrov retired at 0-3 in the fourth.
Giron will challenge Guido Pella for a spot in the third round after the Argentine lefty defeated Colombian qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-5.
Did You Know?
At 22 years 305 days, Tsitsipas is bidding to become the youngest Grand Slam men’s singles champion since Juan Martin del Potro won the 2009 US Open aged 20 years 355 days.
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Two Sets Down? No Problem For Zverev, Who Surges Past Otte
Alexander Zverev refused to become the second high-seeded casualty on the bottom half of the Roland Garros draw on Sunday. While two-time finalist Dominic Thiem fell in five sets earlier in the day, the German rallied past countryman Oscar Otte 3-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 to reach the second round.
The sixth seed is now 7-0 in five-setters on the Parisian clay and 16-7 in five-setters overall. This was the second time he has rallied from two sets down, having also done so in last year’s US Open semi-finals against Pablo Carreno Busta.
Although Zverev was pushed to a deciding set, the 24-year-old was able to advance after two hours and 49 minutes. The two-time Roland Garros quarter-finalist will next play one of two qualifiers: Roman Safiullin or Carlos Taberner, both of whom won a Grand Slam title in the juniors.
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Otte did not lose a set in qualifying, and his confidence showed in the early going against Zverev, as he played freely and pushed Zverev back. But the sixth seed never panicked or got overly frustrated. And once he surged ahead in the third set and began to move up in the court, Otte was unable to find any answers.
Zverev broke the World No. 152’s serve eight times. And although he will want to clean up his eight double faults, the German won 59 per cent of his second-serve points and finished off his victory with his 50th winner, a backhand up the line off his back foot.
This was Otte’s third Grand Slam main draw appearance, with his previous two coming at Roland Garros as a lucky loser. It was the 27-year-old's first tour-level match of the season.
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Christmas Came Early For Andujar In Paris: ‘These Victories Are A Gift’
Down two sets to love against a player that he has never even taken a set from on three previous occasions, Pablo Andujar took some racquets out of his bag and sent them off to the stringers. He was in for the long haul.
The World No. 68-ranked Spaniard willed himself to a major upset with his 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 comeback victory over fourth seed Dominic Thiem, a two-time Roland Garros finalist.
“These are gifts that tennis brings you,” said 35-year-old Andujar, grinning in his post-match press conference. “I’m a guy who has never really been on the front covers or in the spotlight, and for me, these two victories are like Father Christmas came early.
“For me, this is like Father Christmas came and gave me two victories that I could never have dreamed that I could achieve in my career.”
It’s the second time in the past month that Andujar has gone the distance against one of the game’s best, after facing Roger Federer at his home event in Geneva. Both times, Andujar refused to yield. In Geneva, he claimed a ‘dream’ victory over Federer, and on Sunday at Roland Garros, he took down Thiem for his first Top 5 victory.
Andujar, a four-time ATP Tour titlist, said he had the win over Federer in mind throughout his four-hour and 28-minute first-round battle on Court Philippe Chatrier. Even as Thiem broke serve and seemed set for a comeback in the fifth set, the Spaniard stayed calm to edge back in front and close out the win.
“I think it’s true that the victory over Roger has made me believe today,” Andujar said. “Maybe in another moment, I wouldn’t have kept fighting in that third set or believing that I could turn it around.”
After the match, Andujar took a moment at the net to commiserate with Thiem. The fourth-seeded Austrian arrived in Paris struggling to find his best tennis, after taking almost two months away from the sport following last year’s US Open victory.
It’s a feeling that Andujar knows all too well. The Spaniard underwent right elbow surgeries in March 2016, November 2016 and April 2017 – all with different doctors – after achieving his career-high World No. 32 ranking in July 2015.
“I told him, ‘tough luck’. It’s what I always tell my opponents when I win, and he told me ‘great match and best of luck,’” Andujar revealed. “In the end, it’s not that it felt bittersweet, but it kind of did. Because unfortunately, I know what it feels like. I know that feeling more than winning.
“So always, making sure your rival is okay – because at the end of the day, we’re all peers here – is important and that’s what I was trying to do with Dominic. And besides, he’s a great guy.”
Into the second round in Paris for the seventh time, Andujar will try to reset and find a way to come back down to earth as he awaits the winner of Radu Albot and Federico Delbonis. He won’t aim to do anything out of the ordinary – instead, he’ll approach his next match the same way he does every match, whether it’s an ATP 250 like Geneva or a Grand Slam clash in Paris.
“I’ve always said that the bad part of my injury was that I had to stop for such a long time, but the good side is that I’ve learned to enjoy all of the tournaments that I play,” Andujar said. “I enjoy every match now.
“Of course, it’s easier to say this after a win, but it has been a great moment, playing against Dominic Thiem on Philippe Chatrier. This, to me, is a gift and this always helps keep me calm.”
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Doubles Spotlight: Krawietz Chasing A Three-Peat At Roland Garros
When Kevin Krawietz travelled to Paris for Roland Garros, he texted Andreas Mies on the way to the airport. The Germans have won the past two titles at the clay-court Grand Slam. But this time, Krawietz is getting ready to play, and Mies is home recovering from right knee surgery.
“It’s a little bit confusing not to go together,” Krawietz told ATPTour.com.
Krawietz’s season — or at least the one he envisioned — ended before it began. The German team, which has qualified for the past two Nitto ATP Finals, arrived in Melbourne at the start of the year for their 14-day quarantine, during which they were allotted time each day to train.
But Mies was dealing with an injury to his right knee dating back to before last year’s US Open. He knew it was getting worse, and when it became clear that he would not be able to play, both men faced an issue. Mies was staring down surgery on the same knee he had operated on in 2015, and Krawietz was without the partner with whom he ascended from the ATP Challenger Tour to ATP Tour stardom.
“We tried to practise and after that he said, ‘Okay, I think it’s a tough decision, but I think I’ll get the surgery now, because then I can hope to continue a couple more years,’” Krawietz recalled. “Then I was standing there thinking, ‘Okay, what do I do now?’”
Krawietz felt bad his friend and partner had to deal with an injury. But he also had to worry about finding a partner while waiting for Mies to return. He agreed to compete for one week alongside doubles veteran Horia Tecau in Rotterdam. During his drive to the Netherlands, Krawietz paid a visit in Cologne to Mies, who had just had surgery. They enjoyed dinner together and a night of laughs.
As Mies remained on the couch, Krawietz reached the ATP 500 final in Rotterdam with Tecau. The German-Romanian duo have kept going from there and they are currently 11th in the FedEx ATP Doubles Team Rankings.
Photo Credit: Henk Koster
“It’s not easy on one hand. Of course I want him to do well and I want him to win his matches, but of course it hurts a little bit, too. I would like to be next to him and trying to fight together for more titles and more wins together,” Mies said. “We played the past three years together. I accepted the situation. It wasn’t easy at the beginning. The first few weeks were rough because you know you’re out for quite some time. But then I accepted it and now it’s fine for me to watch the matches.
Now Mies is "following everything", watching most of Krawietz's matches and even other teams to scout for when he returns. The former Auburn University standout texts Krawietz after virtually every match to share his support. Mies originally hoped to be back for the Tokyo Olympics and if he’s not ready by then, he aims to return by the US Open. But there is a potential dilemma.
What if Krawietz and Tecau keep playing well and climb the Doubles Race to position themselves for a spot in Turin at the end of the year? The German fully intends on reuniting with Mies once the Cologne-native is ready to compete, but a decision will have to be made for the rest of this season if he has an opportunity to reach the Nitto ATP Finals with Tecau and Mies cannot yet play a full schedule. All Krawietz can do now is fully focus on his efforts with the Romanian.
“That’s our goal: to play every tournament, to go for the title and go for the big tournaments trying to beat everybody,” Krawietz said. “It’s very unlucky from Andy’s surgery and I hope he’s getting healthy soon and can compete as soon as possible. But at this moment we’re going day by day, week by week with Horia.”
With the start of Roland Garros, where the Germans made the best memories of their career, Mies admitted, “This is probably the tournament that hurts the most for me to watch.” But for Krawietz, it is another important event at a venue he will always hold close to his heart, even if Mies won’t physically be by his side. The duo spoke on the phone Thursday evening, and Mies gave Krawietz his full support.
“It’s always like you have positive energy. You always have [memories of the] positive things that happened here the past two years,” Krawietz said. “It’s very emotional, but on the other hand I know that’s the past. Of course in 10 years, 20 years when I come back here, it will still be very special. Now it’s a new year, so I’m looking forward to seeing the draw.”
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Monteiro's My Point: Why Family Is More Than Blood
How many of you have been delivered to your family from a bird’s mouth?
One of the stories my mom told me when I was little was that I was a gift from God, who sent me with a stork, which delivered me to my mom’s door. It’s funny thinking of that today. Then my mom told me that I came from another family, but that she loved me the same way she did her blood children. The truth is, I was adopted.
My biological mother attended a Catholic church group in Brazil, and when she got pregnant with me, she did not have the ability to raise a kid. My mom was also there, and she thought it would be a great opportunity to adopt a child. At the time, it was a very difficult moment for her. My mom was suffering from breast cancer.
But she’s a fighter. In her mind, adopting a kid had a chance to be a shining star of light to bring happiness back into her life. Thankfully she recovered, and not only did she adopt me, but she also adopted two more girls, my younger sisters, Leticia and Jessica.
I never really understood I was adopted until I was nine or 10 years old. Some kids struggle when they find out they were adopted. It is a difficult thing, and it takes time to process. But nothing changed for me. I always felt like I was a part of my family, so I just kept living. It never felt different. They gave me all the support and love that I needed, so nothing was missing from my life.
Many people have asked if I have been curious to meet my biological family. The truth is that I have not. I don’t know if it’s wrong on my part, but I always felt my family is the one I have now. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really grateful for what my biological mom did. It’s never easy to give up a son, but she knew that it would be the best thing to do so I can have a future.
There were plenty of tough situations for my mom, Fatima, from financial difficulty to breast cancer and raising all of us by herself. Trust me, that was not an easy job. But she has always inspired me and continues to do so today. I’ve always learned from her to think in the most positive way, always bring a smile and have faith. She taught me resilience and persistence.
Today I am the No. 1 Brazilian tennis player. But if it wasn’t for my family, I wouldn’t be here.
Photos courtesy of Thiago Monteiro
* * * * *
When my mom adopted me, she was a single mother who had gotten divorced one year earlier. My older brother, Faber, was 15 at the time, and he was the paternal figure in our family. My mom also had a biological daughter, Flavia.
In my early years, I only focussed on one sport. I wanted to be a professional football player. Finding tennis was just a lucky coincidence. My brother was playing tennis on a court across the street from where I practised football, and that is where I hit my first balls at eight years old.
Faber was always my biggest supporter in tennis. He thought I could play really well and that I had talent. He had this dream that I would play tennis, which is funny, because he had never seen a professional player. I never really believed him when he’d compliment me.
I worked with a local coach and only played one hour every three days. Where I lived, we didn’t have the best conditions and facilities to practise. But when I was 12, I started to win small tournaments. Faber would drive me by car just to get me to bigger tournaments, whether it took six hours, 10 hours or even 16 hours. I was his younger brother, but he took care of me too. Faber treated me like his son.
One trip I remember was when I was 12, and we went by bus from Fortaleza to Aracaju. It took almost 30 hours because in the middle of the journey, our bus broke down and we had to wait five hours on the street for another one. We were in the middle of nowhere with nothing nearby to eat. I was really hungry and wishing for the next meal. It was tougher for my brother, because he was much older, and he had to take care of me and worry about what would happen. Luckily another bus came, and we continued the trip. But that was the longest one we ever did, and it was all to go to an Under-12 tournament!
I started to play against guys who trained in the morning and afternoons at big academies and I was somehow beating them. At 14, I got the opportunity to move to the south of Brazil, where I went to the academy owned by Gustavo Kuerten’s coach, Larri Passos. Guga and his brother started to be like my agents. They supported me to move, paid for my practice and my housing. Guga would even help me practise a little bit when I was 15 or 16. He was No. 1 in the world! That was the guy I wanted to be in tennis, so that helped my confidence a lot when I was a junior.
But it wasn’t always easy. There were a lot of great young players and even pros there, and it was like a whole different world from where I grew up. Everyone was doing physical training, recovery and tennis practice every day. I wasn’t used to that intensity.
Just a few months after I moved away from home, I was ready to quit. From all the practice to spending all that time away from my family, I was burnt out at 15 years old. I told Larri I wasn’t so good at tennis and I just wanted to go home to spend time on the beach and drink coconut water.
Larri told me that Guga thought the same thing and had the same issues. A few days later, Guga told me that the year before he won his first Roland Garros, he didn’t have sponsor support and he was about to go to the United States to try to find his way as a pro. But things started to happen and the next year he won his first Grand Slam. He taught me that tough situations come for everybody and it’s up to you to cope with the situation. It was very inspirational.
I realised that if I had a person like Guga believing in me, why would I not believe in myself? I started to grow mentally, and it really helped me through a lot of tough situations.
I eventually became the No. 2 junior in the world when I was 17. My first year as a pro, I reached No. 250, but then I struggled a little bit with injuries and I started to have doubts if I could make it to the Top 100. Again, it wasn’t easy.
One match really made a difference in my career. In February 2016, I was No. 338 and finally making my ATP Tour main draw debut in Rio de Janeiro. Of course, I got a tough draw against World No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who was the third seed. The guy was a monster on the court. I was a fan!
I wasn’t expecting to win, I just wanted to enjoy the experience. I stepped onto the court to get the most out of it I could and to see how far I was from the great players. It rained on Tuesday night and it was moved to Wednesday afternoon when it was very, very hot. I like these conditions because I come from the north of Brazil where it’s 30 degrees all the time. I was used to the warmth and tough conditions. I somehow won in three sets and I remember falling to the court thinking everything was worth it.
I was thinking about my mom and my brother, how excited they’d be. It was a relief. That moment changed my mind. I realised I could make it. I thought to myself, ‘Let’s do this. Let’s work the best I can every single day.’
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
* * * * *
Since then, I’ve made two ATP Tour semi-finals, climbed as high as World No. 74 and gotten to travel around the world to compete against the best players in the world. It’s unbelievable. I’m just a boy who loved football and picked up tennis by coincidence. I barely played compared to other kids my age, but somehow, I’m here.
Of course, I want to keep going and chasing more goals. But I’m happy that because of my success, I’ve been able to help my family.
Last year, my mom started talking about how she has lived in the same house for 30 years and has been getting tired of it. She was not asking for anything, but I realised she needed a better place. Mom deserved to be in a home of her dreams.
My brother is a realtor now, so we found a really good property and took her on a walk there. She was amazed with it because there are lakes and trees, and she loves that. After a few weeks, we bought the land and started to work on it. It will take two or three years to get it ready, but my mom is excited that she has something to smile about and look forward to. It’s a way for me to pay her back for everything she has done and continues to do for me.
Doing something like that is part of what motivates me today. When I’m on the court, I’m not just playing for myself. I have extra energy to try to do amazing things for my family.
I’m not just a boy who came to them from a bird’s mouth. I’m a Monteiro. My family has given me everything. The least I could do is try my best to return the favour.
- As told to Andrew Eichenholz
from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/3fB2vag
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