Francisco Cerundolo enjoyed one of the best weeks of his career at the Rothesay International in Eastbourne, where he defeated Tommy Paul in the final to capture his second ATP Tour title.
ATPTour.com got to know more about the Argentine’s life off court, his horror passport story and much more in this edition of ‘The Nomadic Life’.
What are two essential non-tennis items you always pack for trips?
I always take my AirPods for sure. I can’t live without them. Then a speaker for the room.
I always love to play music. I don’t have a specific artist. I like Spanish rock, from Argentina or South America.
Have you ever forgotten or lost something on a trip that caused problems?
Once in 2019 I was traveling from Europe to the United States and I had just played a Futures. I remember it was Sunday and on Tuesday I had to play a Challenger. I took one plane and I had to take another one. When I was at the passenger airport trying to get the next plane, I realised that I lost my passport. I was panicking and running around. I could not remember where I dropped it and I couldn’t find it, so I missed the plane. They didn’t want me to travel again, so I had to stay one night. I don’t know how I managed, but I got on the plane the next day.
I didn’t find it, but because it was a local connection, they allowed me to travel. I just played the tournament and after the tournament, I had to run to the embassy in Argentina and grab a temporary one. It was so stressful. I was alone, so that was the worst part.
[ATP APP]
How much do you enjoy travelling?
I have to enjoy the travel because most of our lives we are travelling. At the beginning it was tough because I wasn’t used to it. I missed home, missed my friends, my family. But then I realised this was my life and I had to enjoy it.
To enjoy it every single week is hard because from Argentina when I come here to Europe to play, I don’t know, the clay swing or the grass swing, I have to stay at least one month. Now I bring my family. Some weeks I bring my mum or my sister. That’s easier. I bring my girlfriend. It makes me feel like I’m home a little bit.
Have you ever played a tournament because you wanted to see the city?
I want to play Acapulco so badly. Everyone told me it’s a great tournament. This year I wanted to go, but I finally ended up going to Chile. I want to go to Mexico so badly. I have never been to Acapulco or Los Cabos.
I really enjoy Rome. I like to stay for 10 days but no more because it’s so crowded. It’s full of people. But I really like the city, the culture and the food. It’s one of my favourites. The club is super nice.
[BREAK POINT]
Where’s your favourite place to go for vacation?
For the past couple of years, I have not had holidays away from home. I wanted to stay there to spend time at my house with my friends, my family. So the whole of November and December, I stayed in Argentina. Last year I rented a house in the countryside. I have a pool and it is summer back home. It was nice. I invited my friends most days. When I was younger, I used to go away with my family, and I loved that. But we used to go at the end of December, start of January, so now I haven’t been for the past four or five years. I miss it.
How much do you think of taking care of your body while travelling?
Now it’s easier because I travel with my physio and he helps me take care of my body. When we land at any destination, he stretches me or massages me or whatever he considers. It’s good and now it’s easier. But at the beginning, it was tough because you always only travel with your coach.
Do you have any tips to get over jetlag?
The jetlag is tough for us because after Roland Garros, for example, I went back home and I stayed one week. So when I was getting used to the hour in Argentina, I had to come back to London. It’s a bit tough for two or three days. I don’t take naps because if you take a nap it’s worse. Then you don’t go to sleep, but after the third day, you adjust.