“Who had been you pondering of?”
That query was requested of Genaro Alberto Olivieri, the No. 231 participant within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, after he earned his first tour-level win on Tuesday at Roland Garros. It was additionally his first victory in a significant, which he earned by beating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6 (3), 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.
The reply to the query was each clear and touching, but in addition painful.
“My father, who died through the pandemic,” answered the Argentine. “He was my sidekick, the one that helped me in each approach — psychologically, emotionally… Then he began to study slightly extra about tennis and he would even assist me with that. I all the time keep in mind him. I hope he’s now watching the whole lot that’s occurring to me this week and that he has a good larger smile than I do.”
In February 2021, whereas the COVID-19 pandemic was nonetheless in full drive world wide, Olivieri travelled to Turkey, the place he shared a room with present World No. 64 Pedro Cachín. Earlier than returning to Barcelona, Cachín examined optimistic and each gamers and their groups needed to isolate till they examined adverse.
The tragic information got here when he went dwelling, two days earlier than his return, everybody in his home bought sick. Olivieri’s mother and father ended up in hospital. His mom recovered with none points, however his father’s situation worsened and he was transferred to Buenos Aires. He handed away on 7 April, simply when Olivieri arrived to say goodbye.
“After that, I ended enjoying tennis,” remembered the Argentine. “I didn’t decide a racquet up for 3 months. I helped at dwelling, and at an accounting agency. I wasn’t motivated to play.
“After the third month, I began to overlook it. I wished to strive once more for some time. After I stepped onto courtroom I had a fireplace that gave me power in robust matches.”
Olivieri defined how his household helped him by means of that point emotionally.
“They believed in me,” Olivieri mentioned. “They’ve been my sponsors my complete life. And when my father handed away, my mom mentioned she would assist me, that I ought to preserve going and proceed to play tennis.”
At 24 years of age, Olivieri arrived in Paris with out having performed in a tour-level important draw. He got here by means of qualifying and managed to win his first match. The subsequent problem for the Argentine shall be Italian participant Andrea Vavassori, who got here again from two units right down to beat Miomir Kecmanovic 5-7, 2-6, 7-6(8), 7-6(3), 7-6(9).
“That is wonderful to me,” Olivieri mentioned. “There’s no rationalization. I’m so completely happy, and the essential factor is to maintain concentrating and focusing as a result of that is nonetheless not over. I’ve dreamt of this so many instances, of being right here and successful a match. I don’t need to get up.”
Editor’s notice: This story was translated from ATPTour.com/es