ITW – Luca Sanchez: “I have been waiting for this 1st ATP point for a long time” #LucaSanchez #FFT #Sanchez #Tennis # Covid19

The night from Sunday to Monday may be hectic for Luca Sanchez. When the ATP computer spits out the new ranking, his name will be on it. An unforgettable moment for any tennis player. Full stop … 2020 has been a trying year for everyone. Many players have experienced a delicate situation, especially financially, and had to hang on to remain professional tennis players. Others have taken the opportunity to prepare well for 2021. This is the case of Luca Sanchez, young Tricolor aged 21. Native of Perpignan, the Frenchie has been fighting for several years to achieve his dream: to become a professional tennis player.

Le Mag Tennis Actu with Luca Sanchez, 21

Financially, the situation has always been complicated for Luca who had to adapt his schedule according to his means and probably lose a little time. But this season everything has changed for him. Holder of a state diploma, the Frenchie of Spanish origin took advantage of the break linked to the Covid to work and train. The one who was sparring Gaël Monfils in February at Montpellier was therefore able to save and be relieved by the arrival of a new sponsor to prepare for the 2021 season. Monastir to end the year, Luca Sanchez managed to get his very first point last week ATP thanks to a victory in the 1st round of this $ 15,000 and will have his first ATP ranking on Monday. The second point was not far because he lost this Wednesday 7-6 in the third set against an American who, paradoxically, will also win a ranking on January 11 … For several years, Luca Sanchez has been hanging on and he has touched finger his dream. At the microphone of Tennis News, the Catalan returned to his career but also spoke of the future and his dream: to play Roland-Garros.

“I have been waiting for this first ATP point for a long time”

So Luca, you won your first big table victory with the pros last week. Explain to us a little how you felt and what this victory represents?

I felt a lot of joy, a lot of satisfaction because I had been waiting for this first ATP point for a long time. It kind of rewards all the work done during this year.

You are 21 but we don’t know much about you. Some will even discover you now. Tell us a bit about your background and how you came to tennis?

Very young actually… I have two older sisters who have always played tennis. I started playing with my father at a young age and I quickly joined the League at 8 years old.

And who are you in life? I saw that you were also a fan of football and more particularly of Real Madrid?

That’s it ! I am from a Spanish family. I am a Real Madrid fan like my father and my grandfather. I have always lived in the south of France in Perpignan but my family is of Andalusian origin.

“Gaël Monfils’ sparring, it was a superb experience”

I saw that you had been sparring Gaël Monfils at the start of the year. How did that happen ?

Very good ! I was sparring in Montpellier for the second year. I did the sparring of several players and at the start of the tournament I was offered to Gaël Monfils. We hit it off and I’ve been sparring her all week. It was a great experience because he’s a nice person, who puts you at ease and in addition he won the title. Really a great week!

I imagine you were able to learn from Gaël during this week?

From him or others even. We rub shoulders with all the players. We see their preparation for the match, their recovery. We can see how to get to the tournament with more seriousness, more serenity.

So your ITF file indicates that you have the particularity of being ambidextrous. It is true ?

No ! (Laughs) I’m saying that so as not to give too many clues. I am a pure right-hander. (Smile) I like to joke, I’m a lodger. There, it was a matter of blurring the lines and not giving true information.

“Complicated to think that we will go to 20 tournaments with the pros when we will certainly not be able to assume them”

How did you live this complex year?

It was a really difficult year with few tournaments, no team matches. What helped me was having a sponsor, Tech Valley. This year, I am doing a training course and I take the DE (state diploma). It gives me a little income and it helps me to go to a tournament. I had anticipated and I said to myself that it was the year to spend the training, get a little money and leave when everything returned to normal. I wanted to take the DE in any case, but I was in no hurry. The Occitanie League offered me to be in training within the League. In terms of experience, it’s enriching to be training at the League. I did not hesitate to take the opportunity. I knew it would be difficult to play tournaments. I preferred to train well and ensure something when it resumes.

“In normal times”, how is your daily life?

Honestly, it’s quite complicated. My parents don’t ride gold, they don’t have a big income. I am looking for sponsors like many players to finance the tournaments. Depending on the sponsors, we see if we can go to a tournament or not. It’s a little weird to prepare for a season like this. It’s complicated to think that we will go to 20 tournaments with the pros when we will surely not be able to assume them. I train a lot in my club in Perpignan (Editor’s note: TC Illibérien), I have my coach and a physical trainer, a physiotherapist with me. And someone is taking care of finding sponsors.

Paradoxically, everything that happened in 2020 allowed you to prepare for 2021 and to be more serene for the start of the year, didn’t it?

Exactly! The other years I had no income. Mom and Dad helped me a bit, but they could afford it. This year, this training helps me to have money for my tournaments.

What will be your goal?

For the start of the year, it is to resume training in January February and wait for the resumption of tournaments in France. I would like to get into the 800 at the end of 2021.

“My parents told me at one point that we were going to quit and that I was going to go back to high school”

More broadly, what is the goal of your career?

I don’t really have a goal. If I have one, it’s to have a professional career. I’m just trying to improve, improve my tennis and I don’t put pressure on it. If I manage to enter the top 100 one day it will be a dream.

Did you sometimes doubt? Did you think about stopping everything at some point?

Yes it happened. Around 16-17-18 years old my parents wondered about my future. They also had my sisters to manage, who are in the United States. It was expensive to play on the circuit. My parents told me at one point that we were going to quit and that I was going to go back to high school. During this period, for 6 months, I made efforts on my own to prove to my parents that I was not going to give up. I re-motivated them and they saw that I really wanted. Since then, we have been in a fairly stable situation. We advance serenely.

Tradition Tennis Actu, what is your dream?

I would say play Roland Garros. It is the biggest tournament for a French. Playing Roland in front of my family would be a dream.

What can we wish you for 2021?

We are going to say to make further progress and get the maximum number of ATP points to play bigger tournaments.

I would just like to thank my parents. In times of doubt, they were important to me. Thank you also to my coach with whom we have been doing a good job for a while, my trainer, my physiotherapist. And thank you also to Franck who takes care of my sponsors and who is important to me.