By Scoop Malinowski
Ht: 5-7 Wt: 141
DOB: August 16, 1992 In: Buenos Aires, Argentina
First Tennis Memory: Ooh. I don’t know. It’s tough to remember [smiles]. But I think when I first started to play in my first club in Argentina, Club Nautico Aqua. It’s a club and very big. I always play football and tennis and then I decide on tennis because I think I play better than the football.
Tennis Inspirations: David Ferrer is one of them. And Pico Monaco as well because he’s like my big brother. I always try to speak with him. Take all his experience on the ATP World Tour is always good to know. And then Roger, Rafa, all the top players are so big, so good. And I try to follow them.
Last Book Read: It was of football. It’s like small stories in the book and its nice.
Current Car: I have an A1 Audi (white).
First Famous Player You Met Or Encountered: First one…wow…I never take autographs or photos. Because I don’t like to bother them, you know, to go inside their space. I think the first was Brian Dabul (former top ITF junior from Argentina). He was big friend with my big brother.
Greatest Moment Of Career: When I won my first ATP tournament last year in Istanbul.
Most Painful Moment: When I lost in Australia last year. I can’t finish my match. I finish on the stretcher. They take me off the court in that. It was really painful. And really disappointing for me. (What happened?) Against (John) Millman. I was two sets up. And then I started to feel cramping and I can’t finish and I finish on the floor.
Favorite Tournaments: I like very much Australia. Then obviously my country ATP 250 in Buenos Aires.
Strangest Match: The final against Grigor (Dimitrov) in Istanbul. The last game was the warning game, it was a penalty game, sorry. Because he broke three or four racquets. It was my first title. I think that was really weird.
Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: I love to know every people in the world. The food, the people, the language. I like to travel with my team, with my friends. I think that is really nice. If I work in my country I can’t do that. I think it’s really nice to play tennis.
Best You Ever Felt On Court: I think against Roger (Federer). Against Roger I played three times. But always against him it’s amazing tennis. It’s really nice to play against an idol.
Funniest Players Encountered: Many. Many. From Argentina everyone is funny. But from other countries I think Jack Sock, Dominic Thiem inside the locker room. And everything they do to me. Many jokes. And we have good relationship.
People Qualities Most Admired: In general, funny first. Always funny, do jokes and everything. And then good people. Funny and good people.
Scoop Malinowski is the author of Facing Federer, Facing Nadal, Facing Hewitt, Facing McEnroe and Marcelo Rios The Man We Never Knew.
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Thomas Tung · August 11, 2017 at 12:09 am
Thomas Tung writes:
Brian Dabul — only time I saw him play was when he had that loss to Federer (immortalized on YouTube with Federer's tweener winner, where Dabul had the perfect reaction to that shot).
Scoop Malinowski · August 11, 2017 at 7:47 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
I saw Dabul at US Open qualies, short stocky bull type guy, lefty. Guess he quit instead of grinding past 30 like Estrella Burgos.
Hartt · August 11, 2017 at 8:12 am
Hartt writes:
The things you learn from a Biofile! Who would ever guess that Thiem, charming as he is, is especially funny in the locker room?