“When I was 17, I was at crossroads in life" - Cecchinato about his career

Marco Cecchinato enjoyed the breakthrough back in 2018 when he reached the semifinals at Roland Garros. It has been by far his best result on Grand Slam, as he didn't go past the first round in any other occasion. Now, the Italian dropped out of the TOP 100 again and spoke to Behind The Racquet about his career.

“When I was 17 years old I was at a crossroads in my life. I had to think if I would continue to live and train in Palermo, Sicily, where I grew up, or go somewhere else and find new goals and motivations. I decided to move across Italy to Caldaro, a very small town up north, where I had the chance to train and live with coach Massimo Sartori and a very young Andreas Seppi. This was the beginning of my professional career. The first few months were so hard on me. Caldaro was a little town in the middle of nowhere on the Italian Alps. It was cold and rainy, where most people speak German and are pretty introverted. I would say it felt like a totally different world from what I was used to. Palermo is a large, sunny city right on the beach. I am an only child has had all my parents attention and I was always their number one priority. In Caldaro I was on my own, from cooking and cleaning, to doing laundry or just spending time with someone. I had no friends there and all I would do was train and give it my all on the court. This experience was so important to me because it helped me grow as a professional tennis player and person. Sartori “created” the professional tennis player I am today and I have learned a lot from Seppi as well. He is not only a friend and colleague, but he always set an example for me, even though we are so different!" said Cecchinato.

"Being in a completely different place and environment, from Palermo to Caldaro, made me think a lot. It never felt like I was home, more like I belonged to a different country. It was all a shock for me. During my free time, when I was alone, I would start crying over the phone with my mom. Other times I would be laying in bed and stare at the ceiling until I fell asleep. Quitting tennis was never really a concrete thought but it did cross my mind a few times during this period. I was just too determined to do well and keep going. My coach, Sartori, always believed in me and motivated me to give it my all, no matter what. I can see why people think tennis players are a bit psycho; we deal with times that are very frustrating and brutal and the week after can be so rewarding," Cecchinato said.

"When I met my girlfriend, Peki, starting our relationship really helped me transition into becoming a man. Interesting enough it corresponds with the time period when I started to win and climb up the rankings. Peki is a few years older than me, with a stable job and two kids. To keep up with her I had to grow up fast. I’ve learned a lot from her and I’ve matured on and off the court. This helped me deal with so many different situations throughout the last two years. Her kids were two and four years old, now five and seven. The three of them lived in a city in northern Italy, that I now call home. Funny to think about all my time complaining about northern Italy and now I am ‘that guy’! The moments I realized she was ‘the one’, I also had to accept that she came with kids, not just herself, and I was never going to be her #1 priority. I would start this new life journey immediately as a family not a couple. While figuring out how to manage all the emotions and situations, we knew most importantly we wanted to be together. I’ve always been stubborn, challenging and at times hot headed, but that has changed a lot since her. I have become a family man. I feel stronger, more mature and braver than ever before. I’ve also learned so much from these kids and I have tried teaching them everything I know, treating them like they are my own. They test my level of patience every now and then, but that is just part of it. This summer we will have a new addition to the family and I am beyond excited. This family has done more for myself and tennis than I would have ever imagined, and I am sure this won’t be any different," said Cecchinato.

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