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Can you describe your game style? Favorite shot and part of the game you look to improve upon?
Well, I would say I am an aggressive baseliner. I want to be able to be versatile. So I work on finishing at the net. But like Roger [Federer] told me in Dubai that he feels
all a player needs to do is finish at the net today, to approach and volley is
almost not worth practicing. With that
said, the ability to recognize the time to come in is something I am focusing
on. So I want to be an aggressive solid
baseliner with the ability to close and finish at the net if the opportunity
presents itself.
If you can hit with any player, who would it be and
why?
Well, I would love to hit with
Marat [Safin]. I feel like he was so intense and
fun to watch. But to hit with Novak [Djokovic]
right now and play against him would be the best. He is so good and does
everything so well. I feel like I could learn so much hitting with him so I
would pick Novak if I had to pick a player to hit with.
Any special pre-match routines?
Actually, I really don't have anything like
that. I don't get hung up on must dos
just in case I can't do the must do. But typically I like to visit the physio, listen
to music, and talk to my coach, and just stay relaxed prior to my match.
Favorite surface?
If I had to play for my life I would pick hard, but I feel comfortable
on clay. I have done well on the clay
tournaments I have played on clay and spent 2.5 years on the red clay in
Argentina where I learned a lot. So I
don't mind playing on clay. I feel like
to be good today you need be able and willing to compete on all surfaces. One game, as shown by the best, can win on all
surfaces so I really don't like to pick a favorite. I feel like my attitude
should be to learn to compete my best on both clay, grass and hard.
What are the biggest differences between juniors and
pros?
I feel like in general some
guys in the Juniors could do different things, but in general being consistent and
moving well is the general trait of a great junior.
While the pros are solid, aggressive, big serve, and mentally
tough. They do it all. But Juniors is important, as one of the teaching
Pros used to tell me when I played Top Serve (which is a men's open tournament
down there), that I could play against older guys who could beat me but that it
was important to play high junior tournaments. Because then, you are playing some of
the best minds in tennis. So both are important, but now that I am playing ATP
level tournaments I see all top minds, mentally tough, they move great, solid,
aggressive, and they have the serve. It's
tough.
Have been following your progress since you were 15 years
old so your triumph in Maui was not a surprise. However, the doubles title was
unexpected. What’s the key to the improvement in your doubles success?
Picking a good partner. Actually, I might have been more surprised
than you. I don't train or even practice
doubles. I actually find it tough to
find enough hours in a day to work on everything I need to work on for
singles. I only play doubles with a
friend or with a great doubles player. I
think last year, I only played doubles two times with Farris [Gosea] (a friend from University of Illinois). Once with Mike [Russell] at the Open and with Stefan [Kozlov]
in DC and Maui. I think that is all I played doubles. So it is something I do sometimes, but I would
rather have the time to rest or go work on my serve or what ever else I feel
like I need to do after my match. I just
have so much to learn and work on for singles and feel like that should be my
focus for now to reach my dreams.
Best advice someone gave you or lesson learned during your
two years in Argentina?
No matter the
ranking, no points, trying to get points, 1000 in the world, 750, or even top
100 they all work so hard and are willing to make huge sacrifices for their
dreams. It is hard to understand, but
these guys have to deal with a peso that doesn't go far and it is tough to get
dollars. Many can only play in
Argentina. They don't have the
opportunity to travel and play in other parts of the world. They all do fitness 2.5 hrs a day a minimum
and work real hard. I realized and was
taught what commitment was and not to take for granted the opportunities I have
been given. I don't take anything for
granted. I want to take advantage of all
that I have and need to also understand that if I don't have all I need or want
that it is not an excuse that I need to try to figure out a way and make do.
You made your US Open main draw debut against Gael Monfils
last year. Can you describe what went through your mind during the match and
what have you learned from the experience?
Playing Gael was so much fun. It
will be a memory I will never forget. I
was told to not be surprised if the fans start rooting for Gael, as they tend
to love him. So I didn't know what to
expect. But once I entered the stadium,
it was electric. It reminded me of how Andy Murray said that the US Open was his
favorite tournament. So much energy and
so much fun. I felt I played well,
obviously not good enough to win but good enough to feel like if I work hard
enough I can get there. I have to say
the fans were so nice and supportive and I was surprised, based upon what I was
told how much support I got. It was a
sensation I want to feel again and will work as hard as I can to try and make
it part of my life every August.
Most memorable match?
Had to be my first ATP point. I
went to Venezuela with my coach from Argentina, Pablo Bianchi. I went because it was my goal to get a point
so I could pick my futures I would go to.
So I won my first round of qualies easily, then played a tough guy from
Argentina in the last round. I won and was in the main. I was so happy, then the draw came out and I
got Maxi Estevez who Pablo used to coach.
He was the one seed and about 270 ATP.
I wasn't nervous until after the first game. Then I thought I could win this match. I lost the first, won the second, and then I
was up 5-2 in the third playing amazing.
I was serving for the match and then at match point I had a volley
sitter and hit the fence. It was so
hard. Not only was I playing for my
first point, but I was beating the one seed.
Anyway, I finally won the match and walked off the court crying. It was so emotional I will never forget that
feeling. My first point. I played with guys in Argentina who had been
playing to get their first point for years.
It was a big deal for me.
If you can change one thing about the pro tour, what
would it be and why?
For sure, shot spot
on every court and instant replay. I
have to say when I played in the doubles in DC against the Bryans and we had a
chance to challenge, I began to think maybe I wasn't always right and the chair or the lines judges weren't always
wrong.
Tennis goals?
To
be the best I can be, but my goal is to win a grand slam(s).
Favorite tournament?
For me, as I have only played a few ATP but it has to be the US Open.
Last book you read?
Thirteen Reasons Why (Jay Asher)
Your 5 top songs?
1. Three Triangles, Hardwell
2. Sexy Muchacha by Mario Llano my Junior coach
3. Bring You To Life (Transcend)
4. Alive, Hardwell remix
5. On a Good Day, Metropolis
Your favorite Muhammad Ali quotes?
A person who views life at 50 the same as he did at 20 has
wasted 30 years of his life.
Goals for 2015 & upcoming travel plans?
This may sound cliché but it is true, I want to win every
match I play but only if I can do it working and playing the style I am working
on. It is important for me to not worry
and get hung up on and worry about my ranking right now. I have so much to improve and learn that I
need to keep my eyes on the ball and focus on development. I feel like I have 4 years to do this, then it
will be about winning. It is tough because when I change something and or add a
different shot, it is hard to do in matches but over time I will work to be the
best I can be.
My goal is to play a mix of ATP and challengers depending on
how I am doing. I think I will try to
play qualies in all the slams, some ATP and fill in with challengers. I will play Delray, (I won the Boys 12's
there so that will be fun), Acapulco qualies, Indian Wells qualies, 3 US clay
challengers then head to Europe.
And yes Rado is a sponsor of mine. Saw your tweet.
Thanks for your support
Jared.
Thanks again to Jared for doing the Q&A and good luck the rest of the year! Please do well, I own 30+ shares of your stock #RacketRally
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