The Argentine increases his danger on the clay court tour, where he dreams of making history. After a few years where he has not stopped growing, Tomás Martín Etcheverry serves our community to reveal to us what his ambitions are.
After surpassing his debut in the Count of Godó 2024 in a match worked against Nick Hardt (7-5, 6-2), Tomás Martín Etcheverry (La Plata, 1999) still has to play a third set off the court: the requests of the fans. People in Barcelona adore him, ask him for photos, autographs, in short, they take care of him. They are those types of sensations that make everyday life more pleasant. Once he finishes with his commitments – and after the corresponding step in the shower – the Argentine sits down with Break Point to tell us a little about his story.
His calm speech and whispered voice have nothing to do with the noise that his blows generate every time he steps on the court. Tomás appears calm, totally adapted to the demands of the circuit, aware that the secret to success lies in staying on his feet for as long as possible, enduring the storms that life sends at you. It’s almost 9:00 p.m. at night RCTB 1899but I can’t think of a better plan than to close the day talking with one of the greatest talents in tennis today.
First test, passed.
It is never easy to play in the first round, you feel a lot of responsibility, but I am happy to be here, Barcelona is very similar to Buenos Aires, where I grew up and where I was raised. It is incredible to play this tournament, you breathe a lot of tennis, as a child it was always a dream to be here. It is a constant enjoyment.
You enter more and more games as the favorite, how is that going for you?
That’s always good, I’ve been going through all the levels, I hope it continues to happen and I continue to feel that pressure. It’s very nice to know that you are doing well, that you are playing well and that you are starting to be a favorite in tournaments. You prepare all this, you train a lot with psychologists in the mental part so as not to put too much pressure on yourself.
As an Argentinian, clay is your point of safety.
On the big circuit one has to learn to play on cement, right now everything is a little more focused on that side, but the majority of South Americans have a little more control on clay, it is where we feel most comfortable.
Has it been very hard to get here?
I am aware of the work that must be done behind the scenes to be a professional tennis player, that is what my family and my first coaches instilled in me the most. Consistency, work and day-to-day learning are things that are engraved in my skin.
Success in exchange for leaving everything behind, the dilemma of the South American tennis player.
Totally, it is 100% like that. The fact of being so far from tennis is something that always influences, it hurts to be so far from home, I wish the whole circuit could be a little closer to our home, but it is what it has to do. We always adapt, we have learned this since we were 14 years old, when we flew to Europe for the first time. We support each other and make each other strong.
Right now there are 21 Argentines in the top300.
We were very lucky a couple of years ago, when they started with a series of Challengers promoted by ‘Pulga’ De la Peña, who did a lot of tournaments. That helped us get the number of players we have up there today. I think we always had good players, especially in the period of 1999 and early 2000, we were always very competitive, both in Argentina and in the rest of South America.
Is Legion 2.0 coming?
Hopefully, the comparison is difficult, many people expect something like that. Each player is making their way, now we have several Argentines in the top100, so I hope one day we can reach the level of ‘La Legión’ with Coria, Nalbandian, Gaudio, Chela, Mónaco, Del Potro, Cañas… you can’t believe it (laughs).
Were you looking at any in particular?
Well, maybe Del Potro, who came a little later. He was always my role model, but everyone had something that made them different. The ‘Mago’ (Coria) was special, you saw him play and you couldn’t believe everything he did on the court. Or David (Nalbandian) with his backhand, the kind of player he was, you saw him training and he didn’t miss a ball. I remember that they put cones on it and on the third ball it hit it, but how can you have so much aim? (laughs). They were all very different.
Someone may have already compared you to Del Potro…
Yes, they have told me, they have told me […] I hope one day to play like him, he has been a role model since he was very young, the word is idol.
You have a similar style…
I always tried to copy him, since I was a child, that’s the reality (laughs). I watch his tennis a lot, although I also seek to forge my own path. I still don’t have the weapons he had, he hit the ball very hard, something I’m trying to do. We are different players, when I see him play he does things that I don’t do, like there are things that I do and he doesn’t.
I’m going to review your ranking at the end of the year from 2019: #340, #257, #130, #79 and #30. What’s happening in 2024?
I hope it’s better, like all these years. I hope to continue climbing, that will mean that I am doing things well, that I am on the right path. And if not, then there will be time to surpass that ranking.
Would you sign to finish the year top20?
It is a goal I have for this year, yes, one of the main goals.
And win your first ATP title?
Of course, several (laughs).
You played in the final in Santiago against Jarry and in Houston against Tiafoe. The secret is to play one in Argentina.
(Laughs) Yes, I had those finals there with local players, but they were good finals. I played well, I just didn’t get it, I lacked a little decision in important moments, but it’s part of the process.
Do you pay much attention to Alcaraz or Sinner?
Of course, they have reached a different level with their speed and their way of playing, it is impressive to see them.
Do you see yourself reaching that level?
Of course yes, that is the goal together with my entire team, that is what we work for. We want to bring out our best version to be able to compete with them, we have to reach that level no matter what.
What do you need to improve to take the next leap?
The mental aspect. Because of how they play and how they see tennis, I would say that I also need to grow a little more physically. Obviously, I still have to improve many tennis aspects, such as serving or groundstrokes.
Not the right.
No, too (laughs). You have to keep adding things.
Are you one of those who dedicates 100% of their time to tennis?
I think so. Obviously, I do other things to clear my head at the end of the day, but I live 100% for this. It’s not hard for me, I really like tennis, I have obligations and I like to fulfill them. There are days harder than others, but you have to be strong and continue.
How do you handle fame?
You have to learn to handle it, like everything. It has a very important mental part, you don’t have to climb on a cloud, you don’t have to become selfish, all this is important. My team always tries to keep my feet on the ground, as soon as we just arrived at the circuit.
Do you have time to value what you have?
Sometimes everything goes so fast that you don’t realize it, it’s interesting to stop at some point to look back and see everything that’s happening. I receive a lot of love on a daily basis, this is something that must be valued. At the end of the day, all the sacrifice we make is worth it… and if the reward does not come in the end, one has to be calm with what he does.
You are going like a rocket towards the top 10, is it the elite as you imagined it?
I haven’t reached those levels yet, I don’t know how it would feel. Everyone takes it differently, that’s the reality. What I see around me is what I always dreamed of, it is just as I imagined, the place where I always wanted to be. The circuit pushes you all the time to want to go for more, it is a wheel that never stops turning.
Where is Tomás Martín Etcheverry aiming?
I want to be a Grand Slam champion, that has been my dream since I was a child, this is the reason why I play tennis.
What Grand Slam?
Roland Garros.
Last year you already messed it up.
I was in three games (laughs). It’s still my main goal, I have it in mind.
2024-04-17 19:55:50
#Del #Potro #role #model
