- The fourth seed and the 2019 champion, accompanied by Mexicans Reyes-Varela and Hans Hach, graced a new edition of Tennis Talks.
Los Cabos, February 19, 2024.- A new edition of Tennis Talks took place prior to the start of the main draw activities of the Mifel Tennis Open by Telcel Oppo. In-depth talks with the protagonists of the eighth edition delighted everyone present as the players shared details about their lives, reflected on the sport and professionalism, in addition to answering questions from the audience.
Mexican doubles players Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela and Hans Hach were the ones who started the talks at sunset at the Cabo Sports Complex and gave a lesson on the Mexican system to promote national talent in tennis.
“The ITF junior stage is an important step, but they are individual efforts of private clubs. We have to see how to generate a follow-up structure, a transition and entry path to professional, more or less exists, we must strengthen it if we want tennis to grow in Mexico,” said Hach.
“I can’t give a number from 1 to 10 of where Mexican tennis is, but I can say that the chips are well placed and we have to continue, we have something very, very good. They tell us that the best events in the world are being held, the players tell us so on the tour, that is celebrated. Don’t forget that you have a Top 10 player in doubles and a woman in the Top 100,” he added.
When a mother in the audience asked them about how to support their children who want to be tennis players, their answer was: “my advice is that now you have it to win with your children, you have a 500 and a 250, with players side by side that in other countries does not exist. I played all stages of tennis and it’s a marathon, not a sprint. It took me 10 years after college to play a Grand Slam. Short goals. Like school, stages.”
Then it was the turn of the 2019 Cabo Tennis Open champion, Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, who shared details of his early career and how lucky he was with the support of his parents and the talent Argentina had at the time.
“I always had the ability to listen a lot to those around me and not to have the posture that it was only one way.”
Remembering that he reached the top eight in the world and those years of constant victories, the Argentine confessed, “the numbers frustrate me today, it was something very nice that happened to me many years but it did not prepare me for this downturn. What matters are the manners, the feeling, the sensations. When tennis flows it is easier to find solutions. I want to come back little by little to feel competitive and enjoy this last stretch, I’m not a player who thinks about having a long career.”
He also delved into the topic of mental health today and the influence of social networks.
“It’s very difficult for the younger ones, I finished school without smartphones, networks today are part of everyone and it puts a lot of pressure, good and bad. It doesn’t affect me so much, I have everything blocked, maybe more my family,” said Diego.
At the end there was a fun dynamic with El Peque in which he had to choose only one option between the Arthur Ashe or the Bombonera or how would he name his son Diego or Leo? His answers were the Argentinean stadium and Diego Jr.
Finally, World No. 12 Casper Ruud was the closing guest and shared how his tennis player father influenced his career development.
“I don’t think he pushed me but I did play a lot of sports and I was always a little bit better at tennis, from there he pushed me. To be a professional athlete you need also to be serious and someone who is there, to have a good structure.”
He also revealed his dynamic to combine personal and professional sports life.
“It’s hard to balance, there are several sacrifices and I’ve had to say no to invitations, but I try to also focus on things outside of tennis. I have a dog and it takes time. I’m not going to play forever, and I’ll have time for those other things,” shared the three-time Grand Slam finalist who has up to 70 flights a year and claims he won’t travel much in retirement.
“Tennis takes a lot of every day’s time, on the priority list it’s at 1 and the last thing is personal life. Of course I try to enjoy those hours, fortunately my circle is patient” concluded the 25 year old Norwegian.
At the end of each interview led by host Carolina Guillén, some of the audience asked the players different questions, among them teenagers and families who have members involved in the sport.
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