Comesaña: "Argentinians struggle to stand out as young people because.."

Story of overcoming, perseverance, and tenacity. That's what Francisco Comesaña embodies, one of the tennis players on the circuit whose upward trend has been most evident in recent times. At 24, he has won his first Masters 1000 matches in a Mutua Madrid Open 2025 where he speaks to Puntodebreak in the mixed zone after defeating Arthur Fils.

Growing in large stages and against important rivals is a clear indication of a player's stature, and Francisco Comesaña seems increasingly solid. His rise in the rankings over the past year has been meteoric, surpassing all expectations that may have surrounded him years ago. Each player has their own timing, and the important thing is not to revolutionize the circuit at an early age, but to eventually make an impact. In this Mutua Madrid Open 2025, the Argentine is already in the third round and his victory against Arthur Fils has garnered great attention.

"I enjoy facing the best in the world," says Fran, who has a 4-1 record against top-20 opponents. "I believe that competing on crowded courts motivates me a lot and raises my level. Particularly, I feel that in Madrid, the altitude conditions favor my tennis. I knew that beating Fils would be challenging because he has been playing very well and consistently. I managed to make him doubt and lose confidence, something that in Madrid and on outdoor courts is lethal due to the speed of the game," he asserted.

- At 20, Comesaña was outside the top 700, and now he seems destined to break into the top 50.

Francisco Comesaña is not the only Argentine example of a tennis player who significantly improves his performance at a more advanced age than young promises. When he was 20, he was ranked 725th in the ATP rankings, two years later he had already climbed to 227th, and at only 24, he is clearly on track to break into the top 50. A brilliant progression that few could have imagined and can be compared to that of other players like Cerúndolo, Etcheverry, Navone, or Carabelli. The question is clear: Why do Argentines struggle to stand out at a younger age and make such great improvements later on?

"It is very difficult to find South Americans who stand out at a young age. Fonseca is an exception now, but that's a special case. Argentines find it challenging due to the expenses that need to be covered to become a professional. Most of us do not play the junior circuit, which allows for gradual growth with confidence and less pressure. Playing many Futures tournaments makes the journey longer, but it also toughens us up so that those who end up competing at a professional level can quickly develop," he asserted.

Delving into his personal case, he spoke words of appreciation for his coach, Sebastián Gutiérrez, a coach he shares with Báez. "Starting to work with him has been the key to my success. I will always be grateful for what he did for me. I went through seasons playing Futures where I doubted if I could make a living from tennis, but he changed everything in my life as a tennis player. He made me play much more aggressively, improve in all aspects of the game, and believe in myself. Today, I stepped onto the court knowing I could beat Fils, and that's thanks to my coach," emphasized Francisco Comesaña, who will face his friend Francisco Cerúndolo in the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open 2025.

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