Jean-Julien Rojer turns 42 years previous in simply greater than every week, however you wouldn’t comprehend it based mostly on his efficiency. Every week in the past, the Dutchman claimed his five hundredth tour-level doubles win in Toronto and partnered Marcelo Arevalo to the Canadian ATP Masters 1000 title.
“I really feel fairly good. I really feel previous, I am older, turning 42 in every week. However it feels good. I attempt to hold match and I am fairly disciplined with my coaching and my sleep, my weight-reduction plan, and to nonetheless be competing for these large occasions,” Rojer informed ATPTour.com. “It makes me really feel good and that is an element that I get pleasure from of tennis anyway, the competitors, and attempting to win the largest occasions that we have now on Tour. So it feels good which you could nonetheless obtain a few of these objectives.”
Rojer is No. 7 within the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings, simply 4 spots off his career-high. It’s spectacular longevity for a participant who earned his first tour-level victory in Davis Cup in 2001. He made the powerful determination to depart his native Curacao as a junior to pursue a tennis profession in Miami and has been a presence within the tennis world ever since.
“It has been an unbelievable journey. From the place I come from, to start with, having to depart my home once I was 12 years previous to pursue tennis. These early years, in fact there have been very tough moments,” Rojer mentioned. “Then additionally going to school [at UCLA] after which deciding to show professional. However then it did not go so good within the singles… You are sitting there with the ups and downs that plenty of the gamers round right here, they know all about it. After which ultimately I made a decision to play doubles, which form of took off instantly.
“Singles was very tough for me. However I felt very snug on the doubles court docket after which attending to play all the largest tournaments that you just at all times grew up watching on TV and assembly a number of the gamers that you just watched on TV and stuff, that complete course of has been fairly cool.”
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Having reached a career-high No. 218 in singles in 2005, Rojer ultimately made the choice to concentrate on doubles. On Tuesday in Cincinnati he claimed his 503rd tour-level win.
“And counting,” Rojer quipped, cracking a smile.
Which win stands out to the Dutchman probably the most?
“I believed one win that was fairly cool got here within the semi-finals towards the Bryan Brothers in 2015 in The O2 within the [Nitto ATP] Finals. Whoever received that match was going to complete the 12 months No. 1, so fairly excessive stakes in that match,” Rojer mentioned. “And in order that was a reasonably cool win as a result of it is also the Bryan Brothers and so they’re just like the gold commonplace of all the pieces doubles-wise.”
Rojer and Tecau went on to say ATP Doubles No. 1 introduced by Pepperstone honours that 12 months. It’s no secret Rojer is nearer to the top of his profession than the start. However he’s actually not crawling to the end. The Dutchman final 12 months partnered Arevalo to the Roland Garros trophy, changing into the oldest main males’s doubles champion within the Open Period at 40.
Photograph: Adam Fairly/Getty Pictures
Between partnering Horia Tecau to the 2019 Basel crown and Arevalo to the 2022 Dallas trophy, Rojer didn’t win a title. However the Dutchman and his Salvadoran accomplice Arevalo have earned seven trophies over the previous two seasons. In addition they certified for the 2022 Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
“My objectives should not so long run anymore as you’ll be able to think about. My objectives go week to week and it is to the purpose the place I attempt to do my greatest for each single match and put together as greatest as I can for each single match,” Rojer mentioned. “I’ve a spouse and a son and one other one on the best way so this stuff take a severe toll on you and that is what I take into account actual life.
“This tennis factor is gorgeous and it is our job and I adore it. It is what I selected to do and I completely adore it, however I’ve different priorities, which makes it very tough.”
Though they haven’t been with him for the reason that begin of the North American hard-court swing, Rojer’s household travels with him most weeks. One other powerful factor for the Dutchman has been watching his longtime mates and rivals retire.
Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah are the newest to hitch that rising group, as they introduced their upcoming retirement on Wednesday. The participant with whom Rojer earned his first win at an ATP Tour occasion, Guillermo Coria, performed his last ATP Tour match greater than 15 years in the past. Coria is definitely youthful than Rojer.
“In all probability the half that I miss probably the most shouldn’t be being across the gamers that determined to cease enjoying,” Rojer mentioned. “However it’s been an unbelievable journey. I could not ask for the rest. It is plenty of sacrifice and onerous work and stuff. However it’s been actually cool.”