“Me engancha la competencia, el no querer perder nunca, es una adrenalina y algo que llevo en la sangre”

“Me inspira mi familia, estar con ellos y que vean lo que he construido a lo largo de los años”

Santiago González Torre, es uno de los tenistas mexicanos más reconocidos a nivel mundial y ha dedicado su carrera en demostrar porque es uno de los mejores.

Recientemente visitó la ciudad de El Paso, Texas, para participar en un torneo de exhibición y promover clínicas de este deporte en las canchas del Coronado Country Club.

“En los últimos 20 años, la gente de El Paso no ha tenido eventos importantes y ojalá esto ayude a sembrar un granito de arena para que se pueda hacer un torneo profesional en un futuro cercano, sobre todo, para que los niños vean el tenis de diferente manera y sea una buena opción para ganar becas en las universidades”, expresó.

Originario de la ciudad de Córdoba, en el Estado de Veracruz, y con 40 veranos cumplidos, Santiago ha tenido su mejor año a nivel profesional, alcanzando a ocupar el número 11 en el ranking mundial y eso lo anima a seguir avanzando.

“Me gusta el soccer, el golf y todo lo relacionado con un balón, pero el tenis es un gran deporte que te permite conocer muchas cosas, muchos amigos fuera de tu ciudad natal y conocer lugares importantes; eso me ha dado el tenis y con eso me quedo”.

Aunque ha habido buenos y malos años, al final de cuentas, se dice satisfecho y paciente. “No alcance a ir a la universidad, pero si lo pones como estudio, al final yo tengo una maestría o súper maestría en tenis, viajo alrededor de 30 a 35 semanas por año, de enero a noviembre son giras y regreso una semana, casi siempre fuera del país buscando mejorar mi ranking”.

Prueba de ello, son los resultados que ha obtenido a lo largo de su exitosa carrera, al pertenecer al equipo de Copa Davis de México con puntajes de records individuales y dobles, así como competencias como el abierto de Australia y Estados Unidos, Roland Garros, Wimbledon y los Juegos Olímpicos de 2016, entre otros.

Destaca que su mayor logro ha sido el Master 1000 de Miami y la final del Rolan Garros en dobles en el 2016. Con orgullo nos cuenta que es algo grande que un mexicano no había estado ahí en mucho tiempo, por lo que antes de retirarse buscará sacarse la espinita y tratar de levantar en dobles o en mixtos.

El master mexicano, confiesa sentirse en buen estado físico para seguir en la competencia. “Me engancha la competencia, el no querer perder nunca, es una adrenalina, algo que llevo en la sangre, por lo que hay que trabajar mucho para tener frutos y triunfos”.

Por supuesto, asegura que la parte medular de su vida, son sin duda su esposa y sus dos hijos, con quien viaja la mayor parte del tiempo, y es precisamente uno de sus pequeños vástagos quien imita sus pasos. “Ahora está encantado y yo también. Quiero que me vea jugar los torneos importantes y sepa hasta donde pueda llegar, esta empapado de todo el tema y eso lo motiva para saber que va en la dirección correcta, por lo que trato de ayudarlo en lo más que puedo”, señaló emocionado.

En lo personal, se define como un tipo relajado que no se enoja dentro de la cancha y rompe raquetas, ya que la concentración es esencial en un partido que dura una hora u hora y media, así que trata de no regalar ningún punto.

El profesional de la raqueta, recomienda el tenis a todas las personas, sin embargo, sugiere a los padres no forzar a sus hijos porque tarde o temprano se cansan y no van a funcionar, hay que dejar que el niño lo pida, dejar a los entrenadores trabajar, que son los que más saben, apuntó.

Por lo pronto, se va regocijado con la calidez de la gente de El Paso, su comida y una experiencia buenísima que quisiera repetir. “Agradezco a los que han venido a jugar un poquito de tenis con nosotros, estoy feliz de compartir y más por lo que pueda aportar con mi presencia”, finalizó.

Santiago Gonzalez Torre is a tennis player of height and in constant competition.

“I’m hooked on competition, never wanting to lose, it’s an adrenaline rush and something I carry in my blood”.

“I am inspired by my family, to be with them and for them to see what I have built over the years.”

Santiago Gonzalez Torre is one of the most recognized Mexican tennis players worldwide and has dedicated his career to proving why he is one of the best.

He recently visited the city of El Paso, Texas, to participate in an exhibition tournament and promote clinics of this sport in the courts of the Coronado Country Club.

“In the last 20 years, the people of El Paso have not had important events and hopefully this will help to sow a grain of sand so that a professional tournament can be held in the near future, especially for children to see tennis in a different way and be a good option to win scholarships at universities,” he said.

Originally from the city of Cordoba, in the State of Veracruz, and with 40 summers completed, Santiago has had his best year at a professional level, reaching number 11 in the world ranking, and that encourages him to continue advancing.

His love for the sport runs in his family. He remembers that, since he was five years old, his mother and siblings did it socially, instilling in him their love for exercise. Although he enjoyed soccer at the same time, it was at the age of 18 when he had to make the decision between going to college or dedicating himself fully to tennis, choosing the latter without any regrets, as it has brought him the greatest satisfaction in his life.

“I like soccer, golf, and everything related to a ball, but tennis is a great sport that allows you to know many things, many friends outside your hometown, and know important places; that’s what tennis has given me and that’s what I’ll keep.”

Although there have been good and bad years, at the end of the day, he says he is satisfied and patient. “I didn’t get to go to college, but if you put it as a study, in the end, I have a master’s or super master’s degree in tennis, I travel around 30 to 35 weeks per year, from January to November tour and I return for a week, almost always out of the country looking to improve my ranking.”

Proof of this is the results he has obtained throughout his successful career, belonging to Mexico’s Davis Cup team with record singles and doubles scores, as well as competitions such as the Australian and US Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the 2016 Olympic Games, among others.

He highlights that his greatest achievement has been the Master 1000 of Miami and the final of the Rolan Garros in doubles in 2016. He proudly tells us that it is something great that a Mexican has not been there in a long time, so before retiring he will try to get rid of the thorn and try to win in doubles or mixed.

The Mexican master confesses to feeling in good physical condition to continue in the competition. “I’m hooked on competition, never wanting to lose, it’s an adrenaline rush, something I carry in my blood, so you have to work hard to have fruits and triumphs”.

Of course, he assures that the core of his life is undoubtedly his wife and his two children, with whom he travels most of the time, and it is precisely one of his young offspring who imitates his steps. “Now he’s delighted and so am I. I want him to see me play in tournaments. I want him to see me play the important tournaments and know how far I can go, he is soaked in the whole subject, and that motivates him to know that he is going in the right direction, so I try to help him as much as I can,” he said excitedly.

Personally, he defines himself as a relaxed guy who doesn’t get angry on the court and breaks rackets, since concentration is essential in a match that lasts an hour or an hour and a half, he tries not to give away any points.

The racquet professional recommends tennis to everyone; however, he suggests parents not force their children because sooner or later they get tired and will not work, you must let the child ask for it, and let the coaches work, they are the ones who know best, he said.

For now, he leaves rejoicing with the warmth of the people of El Paso, their food, and a great experience that he would like to repeat. “I thank those who have come to play a little tennis with us, I am happy to share and even more for what I can contribute with my presence,” he concluded.