A Novak Djokovic she met him several seasons ago. The bond was born from Marko, the brother of the best tennis player in the world. “He is my age, we have been very close since we were 18 years old and we started a very personal relationship”, he tells Ambit.
The Serb has had a house for some time in Marbella, Gómez-Herrera’s hometown. Both live very close to each other and usually meet Pepe Imaz, coach of the Spanish player, in training sessions. “Over the years we shared many experiences together, in the pandemic we were together,” he recalls.
The relationship remained off the court and they had only played together on a few occasions. However, an opportunity came in June that sparked a revolution in Mallorca. Djokovic was going to play the doubles of the tournament in preparation for Wimbledon. And of course, his friend was going to be his partner. They reached the final, where the tandilense Maximum Gonzalez and the Italian Simone Bolelli won the title by retirement of the Spanish.
“One day I had just lost in a challenger in Aix-en-Provence and I received a call from him proposing to play twice. Obviously I accepted and thanked for the possibility “, glides, affable, Gómez-Herrera.
In full isolation due to the pandemic of Covid-19, Djokovic showed his life in Marbella, where he quarantined. Only three minutes from there lives the Spaniard, who obtained a permit as an athlete to be able to move. “We try to carry it in the best possible way, like everyone else. There are people who have different possibilities than the rest, and we must not be hypocrites, why not take advantage of it. Obviously we did not upload anything to social networks. We try to enjoy it, because we are not so used to spending so much time in one place “Remember about those days of doubt and fear.
The Andalusian city hosted an ATP 250 in April and his prodigal son could not be absent. During that week he experienced a curious situation: Despite being in his land, he was forced to respect the health bubble at the Puente Romano hotel, a place that defines its own home.
“I train there and have been a member since I was a child. I had the facilities to make me feel at home ”, explains Gómez-Herrera. Why couldn’t a tennis player live in his home at a tournament in his hometown? “I asked permission to be at home and limit myself to moving between my home and the club, but the ATP did not grant it to me”, details.
“Now I have been away for eight weeks, with only one night with my partner and my dog. I envy the Argentines who are here because they are at home ”, he adds. “They are protocols that are a bit on the margin, in my opinion, of being stupid and making no sense”Criticize without losing your composure.
Gómez-Herrera was eliminated from the Buenos Aires Challenger in the first round after falling 6-3 and 6-4 against Juan Ignacio Londero, precisely one of his best friends on the circuit. According to his vision, a wrong vision about the circuit and the impossibility of having close relationships survive.
“I think that in the men’s circuit it is a myth. I am not South American, but 80% of my tennis friends are. We are players, but we are people. We go out on the court and try to do our job; That does not mean that we want each other’s evil. I would say that there are many friendships than enmities “.
In Buenos Aires spring begins to mark its presence and the sun punishes throughout the day. In Europe it’s the opposite: tournaments are starting to be played indoors, on super fast courts.
For a tennis player from the Old Continent there is a facility when it comes to scheduling their competitions. The contests are usually within walking distance of their homes; in the event of an early defeat you can come back fast, without much wear and tear. For South Americans that does not exist and that is why long tours are organized, to avoid costs and time. So why does a Spaniard choose the challengers from this part of the world?
“From my current ranking, I had the feeling that in these tournaments it would be easier to enter a main draw without going through qualifying, because there are people of a very good level. It’s true about distances, but tennis is a sport of sacrifices, and I started doing them a bit late “, he maintains.
“Economically there is also a difference, because in Europe everything is more expensive. Except for the flights, everything here is much cheaper for us. If it were all at the same price, maybe it would be different. And here there is an audience, we missed it “, evaluate the Iberian.
Gómez-Herrera participated in several of the challengers tournaments of this tour called the South American Legion, which includes some thirty appointments throughout the continent. “I want to thank Horacio De la Peña (Ndr .: former Argentine tennis player, ideologist of this circuit), because what he did has no words. And I say that I am European, I am completely grateful for what he is doing ”.
The global tennis system has received much criticism for the lack of opportunities for a certain sector that needs to insert itself and affirm itself in professionalism. Players with long weeks of competition to be able to make an economic and points difference, with exorbitant sacrifices. The Spaniard, despite being 31 years old, does not hide his opinion.
“I feel like it’s a topic that has been talked about for many years. Here a first round is $ 500, and suddenly you can play with Londero, who has already won an ATP. At an economic level and points it is not compared. For passing the qualy they give you 4 points, and you face people who can win the tournament. The level of the tournament is not in accordance with the points and the prizes “, close.
Gómez-Herrera leaves Racket calm, suitcase in hand and with a new experience in one of his favorite cities (he had already played the Argentina Open). Soon he will return to his native Marbella to regain strength and energy. The same city that houses his friend Djokovic.
