Díaz Acosta shines and realizes his dream: champion of Buenos Aires! | ATP Tour

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Díaz Acosta shines and realizes his dream: champion of Buenos Aires!

The 23-year-old Argentine won his first ATPTour title by defeating Nicolas Jarry.

February 18, 2024

Facundo Diaz Acosta won the first ATP Tour title of his career in Buenos Aires.
Author: ATPTour.com/es staff

Facundo Díaz Acosta falls on the brick dust of the Guillermo Vilas stadium, he is filled with tears, so many emotions do not penetrate his body, he does not want to get up: this is how he lived a tense Sunday that he will never forget. As a guest of the tournament, he became the IEB+ Argentina Open champion after a superb decision against Nicolas Jarry 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 44 minutes of the match.

There is no better way for an Argentine to win his first Tour trophy than in front of his family, friends and at a tournament he came to several times as a child to cheer on his idols, and where he came with a notepad and pen to collect autographs and compete with with your friends who will collect the most.

A year ago in Buenos Aires, Diaz Acosta won his first ATP Tour match against Federico Coria. Twelve months later, the left-hander made great history, becoming no less than the sixth champion of Argentina in Buenos Aires after Guillermo Coria (2004), Gaston Gaudio (2005), Juan Monaco (2007), David Nalbandian (2008). ) and Diego Schwartzman (2021).

And he did it in style, with victories over Daniel Altmaier, Francisco Cerundolo, Dusan Lajovic, Corea himself and, this Sunday, Jarry. Ten sets were played, all ten were won. Impossibly better scenario.

“I still can’t believe it, I’ve been dreaming about this moment for a long time with my team, working hard to achieve this every day…” said an emotional Diaz Acosta. “I’m very happy that I was able to lift this trophy… I think I played a great match, like I did all week, but I still don’t understand how I managed to win the tournament from start to finish without losing a set. – he said between laughter and emotions.

How did Diaz Acosta defeat the mighty Jarry, the executioner of Carlos Alcaraz, this Saturday? Giving him his own medicine, being solid but watching his shots, landing right crosses and bringing the same intensity on the court that he showed all week. And everything was done confidently and in “zen” mode (he fought off all six break points he faced and did not lose on serve for the entire match), an already outstanding quality for the Argentinean, which is far from accidental.

A little over two years ago, when Diaz Acosta felt he had more doubts than confidence and he still couldn’t reach his full potential on the court, he decided to try something new: meditation. And this has been a complete change since the beginning of 2022. Of course, it was not immediate, but today it is collecting the expected results. “This is an attempt to escape reality a little. Breathe, close your eyes, try to concentrate. Don’t let my thoughts go anywhere,” he said.

In fact, Diaz Acosta started the match shaking with nerves: he faced three break points in a row against him in the first game, as if to begin to level off. A few minutes later he saved the Chilean’s serve at the first chance. From there, ease and consistency were another advantage, and he had no problem completing the first run.

A momentary break in the second set set Diaz Acosta on the right track and never looked back. The only excitement came in the final game when Diaz Acosta needed six match points to finally seal the win and have a dream day.

Did you know…?
Diaz Acosta will see this superb result reflected in his Pepperstone ATP rankings when he returns to No. 59 in the world this Monday, the best position of his career. And up.