One step back and two steps forward for Alexis Galarneau

In professional tennis, the rise to the elite is rarely a straight line. Alexis Galarneau learned this the hard way at the start of the year.

The Quebecer, 4th CanadianATP, spent a few weeks on the sidelines nursing injuries. His first match in more than two months, a Davis Cup doubles with compatriot Vasek Pospisil on February 3, ended in a 6-4, 6-7 (7/4), 6-3 defeat against the South Koreans Jisung Nam and Minkyu Song.

After two entry defeats at the Challenger tournaments in Cherbourg, France, and Tenerife, Spain, Galarneau was away from competition for more than a month. At the start of the year, he said he was aiming for the world top 100 within a few months. Three months later, not only was he not getting closer to this goal, he was moving further away from it.

FOMO)”,”text”:”There is doubt, a lot of questioning, uncertainty. You are no longer as automatic about everything you do. And you see the players you were playing with a month or two ago doing well. It creates a fear of missing out (FOMO)”}}”>There is doubt, a lot of questioning, uncertainty. You are no longer as automatic about everything you do. And you see the players you were playing with a month or two ago doing well. It creates a fear of missing out (FOMO)Galarneau told Radio-Canada Sports in an interview at the Laval Multisports Complex.

It was perhaps this fear that precipitated his return to the game on March 25, even if he admits that he was not at the top of his form. But in a position where each point defended and each scholarship obtained can make a difference for the rest of a career, the Canadian made the decision to begin a series of tournaments in Mexico.

%. With my coach, the goal we set for ourselves was to see improvement from match to match. THE focus was to improve every day. This is also something that we will continue to apply for the next tours.”,”text”:”I left Laval without feeling incredible physically, he admitted. But I have this mentality that, sometimes, you have to put yourself in the situation to get out of it. That’s why I made the decision to go even though I didn’t feel 100%. With my coach, the goal we set for ourselves was to see improvement from match to match. The focus was to improve every day. This is also something that we will continue to apply for the next tours.”}}”>I left Laval without feeling incredible physically, he admitted. But I have this mentality that, sometimes, you have to put yourself in the situation to get out of it. That’s why I made the decision to go even though I didn’t feel 100%. With my coach, the goal we set for ourselves was to see improvement from match to match. THE focus was to improve every day. This is also something that we will continue to apply for the next tours.

If Galarneau and his trainer Gary Muller intend to follow the same recipe in the future, it is because it has proven itself.

Quarter-finals, final, quarter-finals, semi-final… In One month on the Mexican courts, Galarneau won 11 of its 15 matches. From 221st rank toATP on March 18, he found himself in 161st place on April 21, a career high.

It was really a great tour, especially after three or four months of uncertainty, injuries and the doubts you can have. Can I get my best game back? Will I be able to achieve my best career ranking? The tour was more difficult at the start, but from match to match, I became more comfortable on the pitch. I had the right mentality to fight until the end of each match and it gave good results.

And, in the process, he won over the Mexican crowd. Galarneau received the star treatment from theATP and took crowd baths at the end of his matches.

I was surprised at the level of excitement the Mexicans had towards tennis, but also towards me. We, as players, want to play in front of crowds, in front of people who enjoy the show. It gave me a lot of energy for the four weeks.

Seeing that I can inspire some young people to play tennis is one of the reasons why I play. I want to give back and try to inspire, he added.

Perhaps he will have the opportunity to inspire others in the coming weeks, which promise to be crucial for the 25-year-old athlete in his quest to reach the top 100. In less than three weeks, he will participate in qualifying at Roland-Garros in Paris. At the end of June, he will do the same at Wimbledon in London.

[Le tableau principal à Paris] is more realistic than ever. I feel like I’m on a mission. And the mission is to qualify for the main draw. You shouldn’t set limitshe indicated.

Then will come the National Bank Open, where he did well in his two appearances in the main draw. He had the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo, 22nd in the world at the time, on the ropes during the tournament in Toronto last August. Leading 3-0 in the final round, the Laval resident finally lost 6-2, 4-6 and 6-4. When will the first Masters 1000 victory be?

world racket last September, Editor’s note]. This year, I would be disappointed to lose in the first round of the National Bank Open for the third time in three years”,”text”:”It hurt not to win that match, but I learned to better manage this type of specific moment. I was able to apply it well in the Davis Cup [victoire contre l’Italien Lorenzo Sonego, 38eraquette mondiale en septembre dernier, NDLR]. This year, I would be disappointed to lose in the first round of the National Bank Open for the third time in three years”}}”>It hurt not to win that match, but I learned to deal better with that kind of moment. I was able to apply it well in the Davis Cup [victoire contre l’Italien Lorenzo Sonego, 38e raquette mondiale en septembre dernier, NDLR]. This year, I would be disappointed to lose in the first round of the National Bank Open for the third time in three yearshe confided.

The next few months are full of hope for an athlete who is still living the precarious reality of a player outside the top 100. Galarneau is betting that a maximum investment of money and energy will ultimately allow him to reach the fine elite.

He is supported by his trainer and a fitness specialist, Dean Hollingworth. Whenever possible, he travels accompanied. Finding yourself among the top 100, however, would be the end of a daily financial headache.

I hope so. The best performances earn the best scholarships. That’s what I’m focusing on. I also know that performances encourage sponsors to invest in you. But it all starts with investing in yourself. As soon as I can afford a physical therapist on the road, I’m making that decision. This way you avoid some injuries and stay in better shape during the week. You give yourself greater chances of winning tournamentsconcluded Galarneau.