Editor’s be aware: This story was translated from ATPTour.com/es
Argentina at the moment boasts seven gamers within the Prime 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, with three of them within the Prime 35. That top-flying trio are Francisco Cerundolo, Sebastian Baez and Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
All are members of the identical technology at 25, 22 and 24 years of age respectively. That is one thing of a blessing; they drive one another to enhance as they goal to take their nation to the head of the game and create an thrilling brood of younger gamers.
“I’m glad when my friends do properly,” mentioned Baez after coming by way of the primary spherical on the US Open, the place he noticed off twenty seventh seed Borna Coric. “It’s at all times motivating, and I believe it’s mutual. When one does properly, the opposite feels prefer it might occur to him too. That wholesome competitors is excellent. It’s actually good suggestions. I at all times want everybody the very best, much more so after I’ve been round them since I used to be 12.
“Every of us is concentrating on our personal factor, [but] when considered one of us does properly, we congratulate one another. We’re glad that the opposite is doing properly.”
Regardless of that camaraderie, Baez acknowledges that every of them takes their very own path with their group throughout competitors. It’s tough to coincide at dwelling, making it onerous to keep up a more in-depth friendship.
“The Tour may be very aggressive,” mentioned the Argentine. “Generally we’re not even all in Buenos Aires on the identical time – it’s inconceivable. Other than that, in our every day lives, we now have relationship. It’s been like that for years.”
At this second, Baez’s thoughts is on his second-round conflict in New York in opposition to Felipe Meligeni Alves. The No. 32 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Baez is among the type gamers on Tour after claiming back-to-back titles in Kitzbühel and Winston-Salem. But he isn’t resting on his laurels.
“I at all times must work onerous as a result of I can’t take something without any consideration”, defined Baez. “I’m proud of my present type. I’m feeling assured, however I’m taking it match by match. It occurred to me in Kitzbühel, and in Winston-Salem, and in addition right here. I’m fascinated by the subsequent match I’ve to play, about doing in addition to attainable, and about being related to my individuals.”
Baez has now gained 11 matches on the trot. The Argentine is undefeated since Hamburg, when he bowed out within the first spherical to Casper Ruud, the highest seed on the German ATP 500 occasion. Since then, it has been a well-known story; win, win and win once more.
The roots of Baez’s wealthy type stem again to Roland Garros. There, Baez was despatched packing within the first spherical by Gael Monfils after he had held a 4-0 lead within the fifth set. It was a heavy blow for the 22-year-old, who misplaced sleep over the defeat after letting slip a golden alternative to beat the Frenchman on his dwelling turf. He had been powerless as his opponent clawed his method again earlier than delivering his knock-out punch.
By no means one to again down, the Argentine resorted to the tactic that has at all times given him outcomes, the mantra that helped him win six ATP Challenger titles in 2021, his yr of transition into the ATP Tour. Now, as he appears to earn himself a spot among the many cream of the crop, Baez is sticking to the identical previous components; in case you fall down, you stand up stronger.
The recipe for fulfillment of a hungry tennis participant.
