Yegros Codiani: “Tennis is my passion”

shared the list of ATP world ranking with names like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The thing is when the missionary tennis player was among the thousand best players on the planet, those three monsters began to lead the vanguard positions.

René Yegros Codiani is the tennis player in question, the man who today he is a coachbut who continues to demonstrate his high level of play in some tournaments.

That is why, shortly after turning 31, once again he won a tournament at his beloved Itapúa Tennis Club. That same club that saw him grow up and that cheered him on back in 2015 when he got his first points for the ATP ranking, “the most beautiful and important moment of my career,” as René told SPORTING.

What are you currently doing?

I am dedicating myself to teaching all kinds of students, whether they are beginners, intermediate level and competition. Actually, I am passionate about the latter, because as I experienced it first hand I know what it is, it is the area where I perform the most.

But are you still playing?

That’s right, when the possibility exists, I sign up for the tournaments to compete and if this year allows it, I will be playing the inter-club competitions in May in France. I’ve been playing it since 2015 but in recent years I couldn’t travel due to the pandemic. When the dates allow me, I also try to play in Germany, but this year it will only be in France.

How do you get to play those interclubs?

The issue is like this, when you don’t have a European passport you have to go to play ten tournaments in the first year to be able to represent a club from the following year. In my case, I went, I played those competitions and I was lucky that five clubs were interested in me, but at that moment I chose the best option and it was the Lebleu Tennis Club. It went well for me there, we managed to climb but That same 2015 the club went bankrupt financially and they could not pay the expenses of the South American tennis players.So I contacted another club, the Paleu Tenis and it is where I have been since 2016. The relationship is already more familiar, it goes beyond the professional and is the beauty of sport.
I take it as a job because I get paid to play and it helps me earn important money to continue my development. They take care of all my expenses.

How do you see the level of the missionaries?

I see it well, in advance, we must highlight something that has been done for a couple of years of the Missionary Federation and they are supporting all tennis playersregardless of whether they are friends or relatives. Since Eduardo Messa has been with other leaders, an equal and equitable tennis has been sought, looking for inscriptions for the missionary boys, which allowed more young people to develop in high competition.

Do you see many Misiones kids with a future?

There is a beautiful seedbed, boys with many variants and it is good to know that behind a litter other youngsters are already appearing who can give Misiones a leap in quality. We always had representatives in the forefront of the national arena. At the time it was my mother, Chucho Acassuso, Diego Hartfield and later my litter who were at high levels and were even ranked, sharing lists with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and many other greats.

Did you go in to look at your ATP ranking?

Yes always. For me it was a dream to enter the ranking and know that you were on that list. My best position I think was 1,000 more or less among a total of 15 thousand players. What I did know was that I was on a list headed by Federer and it was crazy.

What was your best tennis moment?

there in the 2015 when I travel to Europe, which went so well for me in the interclubs I came back a few months later. I had played 45 matches and won 33, it was unbelievable. Above that year I came back and got my first three professional points.

How was that moment of obtaining the points to enter the ATP ranking?

It was a dream day It was in Posadas, with all my people and in the Itapúa club. She gave everything as she had intended. Sometimes you have to go out and look for points in other cities or countries, and I was given the opportunity to do it in my country and in my city. It was spectacular to hear all my people chant my name, it was a unique experience, which I wish to all tennis players in the world.

Coming from a family linked to tennis, has the support always existed?

Yes, of course. My grandparents always accompanied me to all the tournaments and just in 2015, one of them got sick, had a stroke and couldn’t be there when I earned my first points. If I could go back in time, I would do it just so that my grandfather could be at that important moment. He always knocked on doors, went to the media and accompanied me everywhere.

What was the most beautiful thing about competing at a high level?

The relationships, the places I know. In my case it is beautiful to play in Europe, try myself in tournaments of different surfaces that there are not here, such as cement, roofed or grass courts.

And what is the ugliest thing about that competition?

It is an individual sport and many times there are few who are happy when one does well. The bad part is the envy that exists in this sport. There are not so many bad things, because you do it from the heart and try to see the positive situations.

Do you remember any game in particular?

And in that Misiones Cup when I get my first points I beat Franco Agamenone, who at that time was ranked 600 plus or minus, then I lost to Patricio Heras, who later ends up winning the tournament. Later, in interclubs in Buenos Aires, I had to play against Guido Andreozzi, who was 78 in the world at that time. Knowing that one was measured at the same level is a source of pride.
I also had to compete against the British Cameron Norris who recently lost to Nadal in a final. yesf they weren’t at their best back then, I can tell you that I played against players who are very important today.

What does tennis mean in your life?

The tennis It is my passion, it is a love that motivates me to get up every day, either to compete or to teach as I am doing today. I started when I was nine, first with my grandmother, then with my mom and I never let him go again. It’s my life, it’s what I enjoy doing and having to do something you love every day is priceless.

The pride of a long career

René today looks back and observes that he had a beautiful journey in the field of tennis. Above all because He played at the highest level and was able to fulfill several of his goals.“I always say and emphasize that I did a lot with everything, because the reality is that important support was never obtained to bank a career like mine,” said the tennis player.

Yegros Codiani explained that “Competing for so many years in Europe, traveling, entering the ATP ranking with little is a source of pride.”

“The only thing left for me to know is if I could measure myself against the top players,” he concluded.