At ATP circuit there are players who magnify this sport. Born fighters that, perhaps without the resources or the pure talent of other players, they have managed to maximize their resources and fight, with courage and chivalry, to earn their bread in the ATP circuit. Paolo Lorenzi It is one of them. The Italian tennis player, contemporary of Roger FedererHe was one of the few players of the Swiss generation who was still fighting on the circuit … until yesterday. A defeat in the previous phase of the Us Open 2021, against the French Maxime Janvier, puts an end to a tennis player who not only stands out on the court, he also does so outside of it thanks to his sympathy and honesty (in Puntodebreak we were able to chat with him two years ago).
“Professional tennis is over for me. That’s what I thought, it’s time to put an end to it in New York. I’ve always loved this place, so I think it’s the one. best possible site to stop”, says Paolo in statements to the ATP. The arrival of the pandemic disrupted Lorenzi’s plans, who confessed in 2019 that he would evaluate his situation in the circuit at the end of 2020. Finally, he sought to give himself one last dance in various squares of the circuit Challenger, although the Italian machine was already showing signs that a stop was more than necessary.
A season full of defeats cannot tarnish the dedication of a guy who step by step, without great fanfare or resources, managed to make a name for himself on the circuit based on breaking stone. Among his greatest achievements is his degree in Kitzbühel, conquered at the age of 34 years (the player, at that time, the oldest to win a trophy for the first time); a year later he would also become the oldest tennis player to reach the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time (where else, in New York). Other two ATP finals (in Quito and Umag) light up his record, but where Paolo has really left his mark is on the Challenger circuit. There, the Italian is on the podium of two records that attest to his longevity and consistency: greatest number of victories (421, second in the standings) and most titles (21, third).
“Everything was getting more and more complicated and, in addition, I suffered a couple of injuries at the beginning of the year. I was aware that my body no longer behaved as before, you have to know when it is time to end your career. In each game I have tried to fight until the end, until the last chance I get: I think that is a good memory of me. I chose New York to retire because every time I come here I am happy … now I feel strange. It’s weird: I know that a part of my life is over, of course the best, but I have also been lucky. My passion became my job: I can not ask for more. I also feel happy because I have always done my best. When I was young my dream was to become a professional tennis player. I got it”.
Life after tennis
The truth is that the decision made by Paolo is understandable if we contextualize his work during this 2021. The Italian has already been working for Sky Italy during Wimbledon, preparing to embark on new professional projects still linked to the world of the racket. “I wish I could share my passion with other people. I tried to stay focused on tennis until New York, because my goal was to play at my best level. From now on I will do different things.”A Lorenzi confesses that, when asked what teaching or memory he would like to leave people with, his answer is very clear. “I would like people to remember me as a player who left everything on the court and fought to the end in every game. This has been the best trip of my life. I have enjoyed every moment to the fullest: every time I was on the track was a dream come true. “
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