When one of the best tales of the tennis season are collated on the finish of 2023, Matija Pecotic’s journey on the Delray Seashore Open will definitely be amongst them.
The 33-year-old has a full-time job because the Director of Capital Markets for an actual property funding firm and is No. 784 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. So how did he find yourself in the primary draw of an ATP Tour occasion for the primary time?
Pecotic by no means broke into the Prime 1,000 within the ITF Junior Rankings, however he grew to become a star at Princeton College, the place he competed from 2009-13. The lefty was a three-time Ivy League Participant of the 12 months and climbed as excessive as No. 2 within the faculty tennis rankings.
In 2014, the Croatian totally pursued skilled tennis and the next 12 months he ascended to a career-high World No. 206. However that was when he hit a roadblock. Simply earlier than the 2016 Australian Open he had a small surgical procedure on his abdomen.
“[I] ended up getting a critical staph an infection and I used to be mainly bed-ridden for eight months,” Pecotic stated. “That modified the trajectory of my tennis timeline and my tennis profession.”
The day without work gave him time to consider his future. Pecotic determined to take a seat for the GMAT examination and apply for enterprise faculty with none expectations. He was accepted to Harvard Enterprise College, inflicting a dilemma: proceed enjoying skilled tennis or hit the books. Pecotic, who has competed in qualifying in any respect 4 Grand Slams, selected the latter.
Whereas at Harvard, Pecotic related with Andrew Rueb, a member of the Harvard males’s tennis teaching employees, and have become a volunteer assistant coach.
“He stated, ‘We hear you’re again on campus, we’d like to have you ever out with the blokes.’ I had not been enjoying tennis for some time and he stated you’re welcome to come back out any time,” Pecotic recalled. “Quickly sufficient I used to be with the blokes six days every week and I began enjoying tennis once more and I rediscovered my love for the sport.”
Rueb, who in 2018 grew to become the pinnacle coach at Harvard, stated that Pecotic was clearly keen about tennis throughout his time in Massachusetts.
“All of us felt like he had one other few chapters left in his tennis profession. He served as our volunteer coach for a 12 months and made an enormous distinction in our program by imparting a few of his veteran expertise to our youthful guys. I am so glad he took one other swing and went again on tour,” Rueb stated. “Matija has a excessive aggressive IQ and that made him an ideal coach. On Tour, you want so many items these days to suit into place to interrupt the Prime 100 and it’s a steep mountain to climb.
“Actually Matija has an enormous coronary heart and loves the grind of working onerous. His footwork can be world class. We thought he had an opportunity to make it within the professionals however making a comeback is at all times onerous – particularly if you end up in your late-20s. We want him one of the best of luck at Delray Seashore.”
After graduating from Harvard along with his diploma in hand, Pecotic allowed himself one 12 months to provide skilled tennis one other shot.
“I used to be enjoying one of the best tennis of my life,” Pecotic stated.
Though the lefty made progress, the Covid-19 pandemic closed that door. Now Pecotic is the Director of Capital Markets for Wexford Actual Property Traders, a subsidiary of the $4 billion funding agency Wexford Capital. He works a typical 9-6 schedule and tries to squeeze in tennis within the morning earlier than work.
“I completely love this recreation and I do know it’s not endlessly and I’m 33. I attempt to maximise every day. I attempt to practice each morning if I can, 5, six instances every week,” Pecotic stated. “Typically I practice with my boss, who’s 70 years previous. This week I skilled with a man who might be in his late 50s. However you discover artistic methods to work round it.”
Pecotic additionally hits the health club every day and enjoys a run after work. That put him in adequate place to reap the benefits of the chance he obtained this weekend in Delray Seashore. The Croatian signed in as an alternate for the qualifying draw Friday night and dropped off his racquets for stringing. He didn’t get in.
“I awakened on Saturday morning and I stated, ‘I higher drive all the way down to Delray to choose up my tennis racquets.’ Once I confirmed up, the supervisor stated, ‘There’s an opportunity that you simply may get in’. So half-hour earlier than the primary match he stated, ‘I feel one man’s going to tug out, however it’s undecided,’” Pecotic stated. “A pair minutes later he stated, ‘I feel you’re within the event.’ Really once I was going out to play [Stefan] Kozlov they introduced my title because the man who was initially imagined to play, in order that they stated Kozlov and Watanuki, however it was truly me. I ended up enjoying.
“I performed a troublesome match and to beat Tennys [Sandgren in the second round of qualifying] is an actual particular deal with, however completely sudden. I’m simply having fun with it and going so far as I can. And if not, I’ll return to work!”
What was it prefer to qualify? “Simply form of a second of disbelief,” he stated.
Pecotic will attempt to prolong his fairytale run on Tuesday when he performs former World No. 8 Jack Sock.
Did You Know?Pecotic was on Croatia’s United Cup group this 12 months. “I really like the format, I hope it retains going and I feel there are going to be numerous good matches within the coming years,” he stated. “It’s a good way to begin the 12 months, too.”