Three hours and three minutes passed between the start of the match and the magical moment in which Tomás Martín Etcheverry collapsed on the brick dust of court 14 of the Roland Garros complex. Behind, minimized, blurred and exhausted, was the Croatian Borna Coric, 15th seed, whom he beat 6-3, 7-6 (5) and 6-2. In the rearview mirror had already been the Australian Alex de Minaur (19th) and the British Jack Draper. Ahead are the knockout stages of the tournament of his dreams, where Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka (27th) awaits him. The second week of the French Grand Slam is looming and there is also the future of Argentine tennis. It is that this boy born in La Plata 23 years ago is perhaps the most complete of the interesting litter that these days heads Francisco Cerúndolo.
Etcheverry put the brakes on the talented Coric, the annihilator of Argentines in this edition of Roland Garros, since he had just taken Federico Coria and Pedro Cachín out of the tournament. He did it with colossal tennis. "I don't remember playing a set like the first one," Tomy says after offering a hug show. First with his box, where his coach Walter Grinovero was. Then with his grandparents, who were the ones who supported his career since always. Then with the chronicler of the official transmission. Happiness did not fit in his 1.96 meter height. Yes, almost two meters that are not noticeable because in addition to a good repertoire of blows he owns an amazing mobility. Coric suffered from it. He sought to pass him over. I seek to displace it with dropshots. And the Argentine always came.
"All my life I waited for this moment. I started playing for my grandparents. It's a pleasure to have you here. They were my first time at Roland Garros juniors and to give them this is wonderful. I'm whole. I spent a few hours on court. Now we must continue in this way. A full. Enjoy and then focus. This continues. I have the energy. I'm playing tennis. Why not?" he was emboldened before leaving the court. Happiness was extra great. First he threw his wristbands into the stands. Then he started handing out towels. He didn't stop signing balls. Of course, the great joys must be enjoyed and shared.
Step by step, blow by blow
He arrived at Roland Garros from 49th place in the world rankings. He has already climbed to the 37th step. And it can keep going up, of course. He also arrived in Paris without titles. But that doesn't reveal it. His tennis grows as he overcomes obstacles. This 2023 reached two finals. First in Santiago, where he fell to the Chilean Nicolás Jarry, who almost at the same time also got into the top 16 of Roland Garros. And then in Houston, where he could not with the American Frances Tiafoe after two tiebreaks in which the coin in the air fell on the other side of the net.
Etcheverry is one of the exponents of the new generation of Argentine tennis that now stands behind Francisco Cerúndolo. Those who know tennis consider that Tomy is the owner of the most complete tennis among his litter. He lacked nothing except that arrogant right that managed to mature just before arriving in Bois de Boulogne. He runs a lot and weighs even more to make anyone who stops him on the other side of the net uncomfortable.
Etcheverry takes out Coric. Photo: EFE
Each one has its maturation time. And each one avoids his difficulties as he can. And boy did he have them. It is that in September of last year, while he got tired of winning in Challengers under the premise of improving his ranking and thus be able to get fully into the major circuit, Etcheverry suffered a beating.
Her sister Magalí, a 32-year-old mother of two, died after battling breast cancer. "I am going through a very hard time personally as a result of the death of my sister, who fought her like a lioness until the end against cancer. That's why this triumph. My dedication was for her, who was surely encouraging me from heaven," he told the newspaper El Día de La Plata after the great victory over Russian Aslan Karatsev in the first round of the ATP 250 in Tel Aviv. Until a week ago he had a streak of seven months without winning ATP matches. And it was logical.
Stick with ball
Son of two lawyers, fan of the Milanese and owner of a dog premonitorily called (or not) Roland Garros, Tomy knew tennis thanks to a toy when he was 5 years old. They gave him a stick with a ball and on a vacation in Cariló he did not take it for a minute. "I played with her for four hours every day. He hit the ball alone and didn't stop. When I returned home, I asked my parents for tennis lessons and that's how it all started," confessed this admirer of Novak Djokovic, with whom he played recently in the Masters 1000 in Rome, and Juan Martin del Potro, who would like to steal his forehand. Eye, it is getting closer to achieving an interesting imitation of the hammering of the Tower of Tandil. Just ask Coric.
"I have no words to describe this moment. I think I was very loose from the beginning, I knew that Coric was going to pose an intense game, in which you had to pass a lot of balls. Physically I am whole, I want to enjoy this victory and continue with the same energy", reflected this fan of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.
"I try to improve myself every day and I put all my heart into everything I do. And I always try to look on the bright side when things don't go my way. I think it's very important to be the same person on and off the court. It helps a lot, in tennis and in life," he defines himself. And it shows. Etcheverry does not stop growing. Already down to two top 20 and still did not give up sets. Impressive. No one gave him anything.
Focused, he prepares to pull out a drive. Photo: EFE
"I always try to be aggressive," he told Clarín a couple of years ago when he was introduced as part of Argentina's Next Gen. Now it's not just aggressive. He also has tennis. Great tennis. And the most important thing is that he pursues a dream. Get as far as possible to Roland Garros. The next obstacle will be Japan's Nishioka, who ended the big week of Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild, the executioner of Russian Daniil Medvedev, and won 3-6, 7-6 (10-8), 2-6, 6-4, 6-0. Another story is about to begin.
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