“I chose to live rather than go crazy” | Relief

Many of the young people who are now tuning in Movistar+ for watching tennis They may not know who Roberto Carretero really is., one of his star commentators. “It’s great because it means new people are joining us,” replies a man from Madrid who behind that big body and blonde hair there’s a story worthy of a movie.

In the early 90s, when most tennis players were still thin and handsome, Roberto Carretero (Madrid, 1975) began to rise through the underground world of tennis with a huge body and strength. He weighed more than 90 kilograms, although his height did not reach 1.8 meters. Consider that Carlos Alcaraz, for example, weighs 74 kilograms and is 1.83 meters tall. Roberto Carretero was a beast.

What followed next was amazing. He was the Roland Garros junior champion in 1993 and won the Hamburg Masters in 1996, the previous tournament. and today he is one of 14 Spaniards to win the Masters 1000 title, the highest since a Grand Slam tournament. However, he suffered countless injuries, underwent surgery four times, and his head spoke enough when he was just 26 years old and was not ranked in the top 50 of the ATP rankings. “Then they told me that I was mentally retarded, but today they would diagnose me with a mental disorder,” he says in an interview with Relevo..

A few years ago you said that people in Spain do not watch tennis, but Nadal. Is the same thing happening now with Alcaraz?

And now they see Nadal and Alcaraz. Let’s see if this is something normal. I think when you have a star like Nadal or Alcaraz, it makes sense that something like this happens. It’s like when Real Madrid, Barca or Atlético Madrid play, more people come to watch, even if they are not from that team. This happened and will happen with Nadal, with Alcaraz. But it is also true that when Nadal broke through the way he did, people saw Nadal and many people became interested in tennis. I’m telling you this because it was noticeable in schools. And now this can be seen in Alcaraz. In the end, the father sees Nadal, and the child sees tennis, he does not see Nadal. So, he drags, the father who sees Nadal, who maybe doesn’t follow tennis, drags the child. After all, the more mega-cracks there are, the more charismatic tennis players like Nadal and Alcaraz will help grow the sport.

I think they show it on TV when Nadal and Alcaraz play.

Yes, the audience notices it. This is noticeable, firstly, because more people watch it. And secondly, because the fandom has increased. And when this part gets a little radical, people take out their cell phones to text you, both good and bad. People are more accustomed to picking up their mobile phones to criticize, not just for constructive criticism, which is welcomed, but also for easy or free criticism. Perhaps a lot of people like you and want to say something nice to you because it may seem like they are playing catch with you. We are more likely to pick up our mobile phones because of this criticism.

What does Nadal mean to Roberto Carretero?

First of all, a wonderful person, a great friend. I’ve known him since I was 14 and I know him quite well. We’ve been through a lot together. Then, logically, as a tennis player, a true example at all levels. If we talk about example, perhaps most of all.

Because?

Because Federer is perfect at tennis. I would tell you that no matter how good he was, he didn’t achieve much. Djokovic never misses, never gets injured. However, Rafa had to overcome a lot. At the tennis level, he had to become more of a strategist. I hate to say it, but for me he is the one who had to work the hardest to become one of the three greatest players in history.

You have a very good relationship with Carlos Moya, your coach. What was the worst thing you did away from tennis last year?

Really screwed up. This is the worst thing about an athlete. I have experienced this first hand and it is very frustrating to be like this. It is logical that everyone has their own story. People might think, “Fucked Rafa?” But everything is here!” Yes, but he wishes he could retire differently or do better. Everyone is who they are, but it’s very bad for the coach, for the player, for the team. “Come on, let’s go to this tournament. No, we are not going to this tournament. Are we going to practice? No, not now.’ Being like this is the worst thing. In fact, I really admire Rafa Nadal or players like Andy Murray, players with so many injuries who continue to fight and fight because injuries affect your mental health. Because you can’t do what you want while others are doing it, and it kills you mentally. And I really admire them for that because they are very determined and don’t give up. It’s easiest to say: “I have money, I have everything, I’ll leave it.” But they want more.

Surely many people who are watching television now do not know that Roberto Carretero won the junior Roland Garros and the Hamburg Masters…

It’s cool because it means new people are joining us, kids who are starting to watch tennis and who have never seen me before. This is a very good sign.

How would you explain to these people who Roberto Carretero is?

Well, Roberto Carretero… today he is a commentator who has been working for Movistar+ for 17 years and previously had a career that was loved by many. I had so much potential and I was probably only 20% of what I could be. But injuries occur and not everyone has the head we were talking about. I had a soft head. I was soft on injuries. Having faced so many injuries, so many surgeries… I was very soft. But I didn’t continue my career, because in my time we ended at 30 years old. And when I was 26, I left it because it didn’t suit me. Today, tennis players can play the same way until they are 38 years old. But above all, Roberto Carretero is someone who loves to live intensely. And there are a lot of priorities in life before you go crazy about what you want and want and what you can’t get due to injuries. And in this case, I chose to live rather than go crazy. I only have one life. I always say. If I had seven lives, in one I would be a tennis player until the last moment, but since I only have one life, I wanted to go through it in my own way.

What has changed since the junior Roland Garros?

It’s not the same as it is now, but at that moment it changed my life. To the extent that my career was previously sponsored by my parents. Since then, at 17, my life has changed financially. Now I was able to pay for my degree. It was a change and I was not a favorite at Roland Garros. I went and, well, look, I won.

Then in 1996 you won Hamburg, ranking 143rd in the ATP rankings. How was this magical week?

Well, like at Roland Garros. I had a very long transition due to injuries and because the transition from junior to professional is not easy. It cost me a little more than Albert Costa or Marcelo Rios, who are from my country. And Hamburg appeared like this, suddenly. I wasn’t the favorite either, I came to play the qualifications and, to be honest, they beat me up. You put games together and because of my potential, things like this can happen. After all, tennis is a sport that lacks continuity, and I didn’t have that. I have had problems with my shoulder since I was 13 and continue to this day. And then, besides this, several more operations. So, this is a sport that either has continuity or is very difficult. Well, if you have great potential, you can prove something, as was the case in my case.

Do you keep clothes and rackets from Hamburg?

Not clothes, because I’m a generous person who ends up giving away a lot of things. I only have two or three rackets left. And the trophy is in my window.

How many operations are we talking about?

One with 19 years of experience in a hard foot, the same one from which Carlos Moya retired. Then two on my shoulder and I also had surgery on both pubes. I also had a lot of muscle injuries due to having so much strength and big muscles. And the diet that we had, and the way we looked after ourselves then, were not compatible with my physique for this sport.

How does an athlete suffer when injured?

My case was a person with mental health problems. What today is diagnosed as mental health, mental health problems, this was my case. Nothing was said before. Before they said, “Damn, what’s wrong with this?” I had a problem. I had a problem with not connecting weeks, not connecting training, not connecting tournaments and not connecting wins. And eventually you get discouraged and say, “You’re not cut out for this,” even though you have top-ten potential. So it’s very difficult for a 20-year-old to cope with this.

Have you seen a psychologist?

No no. I went to a physical therapist because I had a problem with my shoulder. But I wasn’t diagnosed with mental health problems because no one noticed. So they said that I was not fit for this and that I was stupid… Well, maybe this person has mental health problems and needs to be treated. Today I would be diagnosed with a mental health problem.

Do you beat yourself up about anything in your career?

I don’t think so. At least, not knowing what I know now. But this is not reprehensible. I just didn’t know anything. I walked at the same pace as everyone else. And the others held on, but I didn’t. My style of play and my physique had nothing in common with others. I had to take care of myself ten times more than others to have a career like this.

Haven’t you taken care of yourself?

I ate whatever I wanted, just like everyone else. What happened was that later I got injured. We were young and we left. I shouldn’t have gone out. I shouldn’t have gone out. It’s not just a way out. When I talk about going out, I’m talking about drinks and things like that. I couldn’t because I have an anti-tennis body type. I was a pure muscle guy, a 200-pound guy, muscular, hitting all over the place. I was an anti-tennis player, playing with a tension of 40 kilograms on the racket (half is normal). I may be a rock climber or a boxer, but I’m a tennis player…