Francisco closing it Continue shining in the Masters 1000 from Madrid And this Thursday was classified to the semifinals of the Spanish capital tournament by imposing on the Czech Jakub fascinates by 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) and 6-2.
The ‘Matagigantes’who threw the first standard, the German Alexander Zverev In eighths by 7-5 and 6-3, it is for the second time among the four best of a 1000 Masters, three years after having succeeded in Miami in 2022.
With this triumph, the Buenos Aires becomes the first Argentine to reach the penultimate round in the Spanish capital from Juan Martín del Potro in 2012. In the semifinals (this Friday, at 11, at the Manolo Santana stadium), closing it will be measured with the Norwegian Casper Ruudwhich eliminated Russian Daniil Medvedev (6-3 and 7-5) and that crosses an identity crisis.
The Argentine leads in the private duels against the Scandinavian, with five victories against three. His last duel dates back to Miami, a few weeks ago, where he won him 6-4 and 6-2. The 26 -year -old tennis player, with three titles in his career –Bastad 2022, Eastbourne 2023 and UMAG 2024– You have in the final of Buenos Aires its best result this year. Due to his victory on the Arantxa Sánchez court over Messik, closing him to the 18th place in the world, the best classification of his career.
“What I’m doing here It is crazya pride and I am very happy with the support that the fans are giving me every day, luckily I could achieve a victory and hopefully they come for the semis, ”he warned by closing him, who will face an uncomfortable rival, difficult, specialist on brick dust. And that, at the same time, is not having a good time in recent long months.
The demand of the calendar It is one of the topics that generates the most debates. Ruud reflects beyond the joy for a victory. At a press conference after his success against Daniil Medvedev, the Norwegian, who comes from leaving the top 10 but does not lower his guard, warned: “I don’t want to enter too many details, but I crossed some mental health problems this year, That’s why I looked for professional help. ”
In this regard, he added that he noticed an “improvement” since then and that he feels relieved to have detected him in time. “I felt like it was a hamster on the wheelhe took many steps, but nothing progressed. The current calendar makes it impossible to stop, I needed to get out of that spiral and reflect on my life, about my feelings and the path in which I was, “he said.
While he said that “I returned to the hamster wheel to which the circuit leads us ”, now he does it from another perspective and with a much better mentality. “Tennis is much more complicated than hitting the ball well”warned.
Mental health is an alarm that not only affects tennis players, but also athletes from other disciplines. “There are many moments during the year you would like have time to rest and think of other things that are not tennis. If you are among the 30 best in the world, with the current calendar you already know that you have to compete around 30 weeks a year and, if you do not, the penalties are very severe, ”the Roland Garros finalist opened his heart in 2022 and 2023.
A gesture paints it entirely, with a simple post on Twitter, regarding the defeat of a female star. The Polish Iga Swiateknumber 2 in the world, was eliminated in the semifinals of the WTA 1000 of Madrid, of which she is the current champion, losing Thursday against the American Coco Gauff for a double 6-1.
Just over three weeks of Roland Garros, which will be played from May 25 to June 8the 23 -year -old tennis player triggers doubts about her moment for how the defeat was against Gauff, who swept Swiatek in just over an hour in the Magic Box. In the image, the Polish is hidden for long seconds under a towel during a break, without showing its weakness.
Seeing that video, Casper wrote: “Hey @iga_swatek, I kept my head up, like millions of people, I love seeing you play. Today is not your day, but you inspire many and You will return stronger than ever. “
More intimate than ever, he left two phrases that portray him in body and soul. “It is a difficult life in many ways, with many days of travel, and there is a point where I felt it was too much. But I really searched for help and it has worked for me, so I’m glad to feel more joy and feel that I am in a better place. I feel that I wake up every day with a smile. So I’m glad to have been honest with myself and have felt that I needed help, that has paid off quickly, ”he said.
And it went further: “In this you have to be quite honest with yourself when something does not work and something needs to change for better; that is always what you are looking for. So, even now, if I play well or I feel good, I can aspire to be mentally even better.”
