4 years ago, I won Cincinnati.
Today, I’m watching it from home, holding our 2 week old baby in my arms.
And honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every experience, every challenge, every victory and every disappointment led me to where I am today.
But if I could tell my younger self one thing, and share it with all the young players out there, it would be this:
Enjoy the present. Wherever you are.
For most of my career, tennis felt like life or death. Every match, every ranking point, every tournament felt like everything.
Now, with this tiny, fragile newborn in my arms, I realize that tennis was never life or death. It was just tennis.
And I don’t say that in a negative way. Quite the opposite.
Tennis is an incredible gift. It’s something worth dedicating yourself to, working hard for, and making sacrifices for. But at the end of the day, it’s a game, and we should allow ourselves to enjoy it.
I was lucky enough to win some amazing tournaments, including here in Cincinnati, but I didn’t always let myself fully appreciate those moments. I was already thinking about the next goal, the next challenge, the next tournament.
If I could do it all over again, every time I won a title, no matter how big or small, I would allow myself a few days (or even weeks) to slow down, celebrate, be proud, and truly enjoy the journey.
So if you’re reading this and you’re still on tour, remember this:
A few months after you retire, you won’t regret not achieving one specific thing. You’ll know you gave everything you had.
But what you might regret is not enjoying the ride enough.
Being ambitious, wanting more, and chasing your dreams are not incompatible with celebrating your achievements and being proud of yourself.
Actually, I think they go hand in hand.
Good luck to all the finalists in Cincinnati (specially to @ArthurFils!). I can’t wait to be back next year… recording episodes this time 😉
Aggiornamento sul nostro amato @StefanoVerbania. Facciamo tutti il tifo per lui. Putroppo la situazione è molto critica. Possiamo solo sperare per il meglio. Con il pensiero sempre rivolto a lui. Forza Stefano.🙏