Jean-Julien Rojer turns 42 years previous in simply greater than per week, however you wouldn’t understand it based mostly on his efficiency. Every week in the past, the Dutchman claimed his five hundredth tour-level doubles win in Toronto and partnered Marcelo Arevalo to the Canadian ATP Masters 1000 title.
“I really feel fairly good. I really feel previous, I’m older, turning 42 in per week. But it feels good. I attempt to hold match and I’m fairly disciplined with my coaching and my sleep, my weight loss plan, and to nonetheless be competing for these large occasions,” Rojer advised ATPTour.com. “It makes me really feel good and that is an element that I take pleasure in of tennis anyway, the competitors, and attempting to win the most important occasions that now we have on Tour. So it feels good that you would be able to nonetheless obtain a few of these targets.”
Rojer is No. 7 within the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings, simply 4 spots off his career-high. It is spectacular longevity for a participant who earned his first tour-level victory in Davis Cup in 2001. He made the powerful resolution to go away his native Curacao as a junior to pursue a tennis profession in Miami and has been a presence within the tennis world ever since.
“It’s been an unimaginable journey. From the place I come from, initially, having to go away my home after I was 12 years previous to pursue tennis. Those early years, after all there have been very tough moments,” Rojer mentioned. “Then additionally going to college [at UCLA] after which deciding to show professional. But then it did not go so good within the singles… You’re sitting there with the ups and downs that a whole lot of the gamers round right here, they know all about it. And then finally I made a decision to play doubles, which type of took off straight away.
“Singles was very tough for me. But I felt very comfy on the doubles courtroom after which attending to play all the most important tournaments that you simply all the time grew up watching on TV and assembly a number of the gamers that you simply watched on TV and stuff, that entire course of has been fairly cool.”
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Having reached a career-high No. 218 in singles in 2005, Rojer finally made the choice to deal with doubles. On Tuesday in Cincinnati he claimed his 503rd tour-level win.
“And counting,” Rojer quipped, cracking a smile.
Which win stands out to the Dutchman probably the most?
“I assumed one win that was fairly cool got here within the semi-finals in opposition to the Bryan Brothers in 2015 in The O2 within the [Nitto ATP] Finals. Whoever gained that match was going to complete the 12 months No. 1, so fairly excessive stakes in that match,” Rojer mentioned. “And in order that was a fairly cool win as a result of it is also the Bryan Brothers and so they’re just like the gold customary of all the pieces doubles-wise.”
Rojer and Tecau went on to assert ATP Doubles No. 1 offered by Pepperstone honours that 12 months. It is not any secret Rojer is nearer to the top of his profession than the start. But he’s actually not crawling to the end. The Dutchman final 12 months partnered Arevalo to the Roland Garros trophy, changing into the oldest main males’s doubles champion within the Open Era at 40.
Photo: Adam Pretty/Getty Images
Between partnering Horia Tecau to the 2019 Basel crown and Arevalo to the 2022 Dallas trophy, Rojer didn’t win a title. But the Dutchman and his Salvadoran accomplice Arevalo have earned seven trophies over the previous two seasons. They additionally certified for the 2022 Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
“My targets are usually not so long run anymore as you may think about. My targets go week to week and it is to the purpose the place I attempt to do my finest for each single match and put together as finest as I can for each single match,” Rojer mentioned. “I’ve a spouse and a son and one other one on the best way so this stuff take a severe toll on you and that is what I take into account actual life.
“This tennis factor is gorgeous and it is our job and I adore it. It’s what I selected to do and I completely adore it, however I’ve different priorities, which makes it very tough.”
Although they haven’t been with him for the reason that begin of the North American hard-court swing, Rojer’s household travels with him most weeks. Another powerful factor for the Dutchman has been watching his longtime pals and rivals retire.
Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah are the newest to hitch that rising group, as they introduced their upcoming retirement on Wednesday. The participant with whom Rojer earned his first win at an ATP Tour occasion, Guillermo Coria, performed his closing ATP Tour match greater than 15 years in the past. Coria is definitely youthful than Rojer.
“Probably the half that I miss probably the most is just not being across the gamers that determined to cease enjoying,” Rojer mentioned. “But it has been an unbelievable journey. I could not ask for the rest. It’s a whole lot of sacrifice and onerous work and stuff. But it has been actually cool.”
Source: www.atptour.com