The ranking ATP double offers a curious fact. None of the Top 10 is under 31 years old. Even the first Sub 30 in the rankings is the Polish Jan Zielinski, number 18 and 26 years old. The latest entry to the select group of the best in the world is from Tandil Maximo Gonzalezthe “40-year-old kid” of tennis Argentinian.
The “40-year-old kid” was coined by Emanuel Ginobili towards the end of his career, but the tunic suits “Machi” well, who is experiencing the best moment of his professional career upon landing in the four decades. He smiles, despite hearing “they’re not kids anymore.”
So far in 2023, he has won five titles, all alongside Andrés Molteniincluding the Masters 1000 of Cincinnati. Both make up the duo that will face Lithuania this Saturday and Sunday for the World Group 1 playoffs of the Davis cup. They will be feared: they occupy fourth position in the race towards the ATP Finals in Turin to be held in November.
“At this age, all this is a reward for the work I have been doing for so many years, to resist bad things, to continue fighting for a dream. If it didn’t happen, I was still going to be calm with my career.”release the brand new number 10 in the world to Ambit. It is the third Top 10 in Argentine history: “Molto” reached number 7 three weeks ago (now it is 9) and Horacio Zeballos It became No. 3.
“Machi” does not avoid him at 40, he laughs, accommodates ideas and philosophies. After sacrifices, avatars and 2022 “bad, with personal things, I was left without a partner”the Tandilense reflects that “It is very nice that a year like this arrives at this age”.
To wit: throughout this season, the albiceleste duo lifted the trophies of Córdoba (ATP 250), Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona, Washington (ATP 500) and Cincinnati (M1000). Furthermore, they reached the quarterfinals in Roland Garros and the US Open. That catapulted them to fourth place in the ranking that determines classification for the Turin Masters at the end of the year.
The obvious question is how aware they are of the classification to the ATP Finals, if they observe them with suspicion or focus on the day to day. And González is far from putting on the cassette: “I look at it quite directly, not askance, haha. I have both eyes focused there. Since I played doubles my goal has always been the Masters. I was there two years ago as the first substitute couple; I really liked what I experienced without being able to compete. It is the only tournament I have yet to play. “It would be a very nice award for my career.”.
“I think experience also makes it happen. One takes it differently. With Andrés we know each other a lot since we were kids, we train a lot, and we put that into the field.”, describes. The formation of the duo came unexpectedly.
In recent years both had several changes of partners. And although they did not compete together, they shared training almost permanently. Everything changed at the end of 2022, when they both decided to get together and won the Gijón tournament.
“We get along well, we work a lot, here in Argentina, all of that paid off this year,” says the winner of 17 titles in the specialty. The adventure began in Oceania; Then came the first consecration in a 250 and almost continuously in a 500, and the wheel did not stop until he consolidated himself in the elite. “Today we felt that we were playing against the best couples, that we said ‘let’s see how we do with them’ and we beat them,” he says.
In present-day tennis, both the super powerful young people represented by Carlos Alcaraz and “the old guard” coexist, emblems of the circuit such as Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka either Andy Murray that, despite the years, transcend age and legend. For “Machi”, the determining factor is the work teams that make “one healthier.”
“The career of kinesiologists and physical trainers was greatly stretched. 20 years ago you saw very few kinesiologists or trainers traveling. What’s more, they even shared coaches. That did very good for tennis. It is very rare that you see the top players today and they do not have a complete team. And every tournament also gives you those professionals. “That makes you feel much better physically and you can continue playing.”he adds.
On the other hand, life beyond sport also contributes its own, and in that sense, González confesses another substantial factor: family. “The emotional part is very important to me, that my wife and daughter travel with me. “If I go alone for more than two weeks, it costs me a lot”he argues.
“If I go away, for example, for four weeks, halfway through I already miss it; It doesn’t mean that I play badly, but I think about them, and the last week it’s like if I lose it doesn’t matter. I try to travel a lot with them and they like it too. We enjoy the trips a lot. As a child I couldn’t walk or see cities, now with the doubles I can do it because I have more time. That makes me enjoy it and at this age I do it. Otherwise I wouldn’t be playing.”he concludes.
The Argentine Davis Cup team’s training sessions were intense this Tuesday. Spring is beginning to show its first signs in the BALTC. “Machi” González will debut his Top 10 status right before his people. For him there is a special symbolism in being number 10, “for football, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi.” The “40-year-old” is the tenth in the world. He is in his best moment.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
