The covid-19 prevented emilio gomez had a regular preseason, he could not train before reaching the qualy of the Australian Open. Despite that, the Ecuadorian made history by qualifying for the first time in the main draw of this Grand Slam.
Gómez had complications in his planning, due to the virus. tested positive twice, the first was in Argentina, where he was unable to complete his pre-season training sessions, and the second in Australia, when he arrived in Sydney, Australia.
In an interview for the KC Tennis portal, the Guayaquil native referred that covid-19 demotivated him before the start of the Australian tournament. In addition to his contagions, his grandfather also contracted the virus and is still hospitalized.
“It is not the same to compete without feeling close to him (grandfather), now i saw him in the hospital and i was really shocked. I spoke with my uncles and my mother, to see if I was going (to the preseason in Argentina). Your support is fundamental”, said the athlete.
He asked his family for permission to stick to his schedule. But nevertheless, his infections prevented him from training before qualifying. He overcame these drawbacks and reached the main draw and this January 18, 2022 he will face the Croatian Marin Cilic, at a time to be defined.
“I felt that I was coming down“, Gómez acknowledged, regarding the ravages caused by the virus to him and his grandfather. on the pitch he took all that frustration out and turned it into motivation.
He left the German on the way Nicola Kuhn, then to the american Mitchell Krueger and finally to Italian Thomas Fabbiano. Gómez is the third Ecuadorian to reach the main draw of this tournament, after his father, Andrés Gómez and Nicolás Lapentti.
