Albert Ramos (Mataró, 33 years old and 46th in the world) accumulates a lot of filming on land, after his successful tour of Argentina, where he played the final in Córdoba and was a semifinalist in Buenos Aires, his good role in the Andalucía Open, a tournament in which he lost in the semifinals against Pablo Carreño, and the defeat in the first round of Montecarlo against the NextGen Jannik Sinner. At the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell he makes his debut this Tuesday against a promising 17-year-old tennis player, the Danish Rune. AS spoke in Marbella with the Catalan, which for a few months he combines his dedication to the sport of racket with fatherhood.
How are you doing about being a father and traveling to compete on the circuit?
It's hard, although I don't want to be misunderstood, because there are much more difficult things in many people's lives. It changes everything. The circuit is very demanding and it takes many, many weeks. It is difficult to separate from the family, but I have to try to take advantage of the years that I have left, which are not so many. I am very happy to be able to be these last weeks playing tournaments in Spain with my wife and my daughter.
Has parenting served as a stimulus?
I have always tried to do well throughout my career, I don't think that will change much for being a father. But since you have to be separated from the family, I try to do my best and make the most of every opportunity.
“I try to do my best and make the most of every opportunity.”
Paternity and circuit
But he will be happier now …
Of course, of course, what happens is that it is also hard to go to Australia and America, and being confined knowing that you have your daughter growing up and you cannot see her is difficult. But it is also so for many people who are separated from their children and who are not athletes. I don't want to sound like a sufferer when this is something that happens to a lot of people. I handle it well, but I live it as something different and it changes the way you feel. Sometimes it gets tough.
How are you playing pandemic tennis?
In spite of the bad luck, the horror and how badly we are all going through, with many people losing their loved ones, I was lucky to be with my wife. Then the girl was born and I had to go to the US Open four days later. And when I arrived they admitted her for a small problem. Inside the hard, I was able to live a large part of the pregnancy.
What are your goals at this point in your career?
Although I'm older, I want to keep improving, try to do my best and go year after year. I have started well in 2021, but this can change fast. I am physically well, energetic and happy. The results are accompanying.
You had a health problem, is it forgotten?
I don't want to talk about it too much, because it is not convenient for rivals to know. I had a little health problem that is being watched and I'm getting better and better, but I can't trust myself. It's a long process, but I don't want to think about it too much. I'm not perfect, but much better, I'm running, right? I also had an injury.
“Traveling is not easy now because the prizes have dropped and the ranking is frozen”
Difficulties
Does it look more competitive then?
Yes, I can't complain. Now we need to adjust a couple of things on the track.
The circuit is strange, right, with many absences, casualties …
Traveling is not easy now because the prizes have dropped, although you have to be careful with what you say and have respect for everyone. It also doesn't help the ranking freeze and those things make some players not interested in traveling. You have to be patient.