Diego, we know your long career and your great contribution in the formation of great Argentine players. Tell us what is your new professional and international challenge?
First of all, my main challenge is to continue learning, as I have been doing every day since I started in this beautiful profession. In the United States I have the chance to get to know all kinds of cultures different from ours. This great cultural difference forces me as a professional to be able to adapt to those differences and share my knowledge in different ways. On the other hand, in Argentina we have a first level tennis development with some characteristics that are not abundant here. Being able to transmit them is going to make the players I’m working with achieve a more complete formation.
A tennis player is generally accompanied by an interdisciplinary team, tell us about your contribution as a Coach in the career of a tennis player.
One of the reasons why I chose the Development Stage for tennis players (8 to 17 years old) is that I can freely choose the team that will help me in this task. This is a stage that definitely marks the future player and the coaches are fundamental in that sporting and, above all, human growth. Throughout almost 25 years as Director of the Racket Club’s High Performance Center, we have formed an interdisciplinary team made up of a Physical Preparation Director, a Sports Physician, a Nutritionist, a Psychologist, a Kinesiologist and a Physiotherapist specialized in Preventive Work. I could always choose that team. Perhaps if one were to travel as the Coach of a Professional player, they would have to adapt to a team chosen by the player and since they are mostly people (players) already trained, they do not have the same incidence as when working with boys from such an early age.
Mention us some of the great tennis values that you discovered, accompanied and positioned in their careers.
Some of the players who went through Our Academy in development stages were: Guillermo Coria, Franco Squillari, Agustin Calleri, Martin Vasallo Arguello, Guido Andreozzi, Kevin Konfederak (current coach of Fran Cerundolo), Guillermo Duran, Marco Trungelliti, Gaston Etlis.
Where are you today working as a coach and trainer of professionals?
I’m working in Miami, at the Saviano High Performance Tennis Academy. This Academy is considered in the United States as one of the three best in the country and among the top 10 in the world.
Tell us about Saviano Tennis High Performance Academy and your contribution to the institution.
The Academy is directed by Nick Saviano, one of the most prestigious coaches in the world. For many years he was Director of Development for the United States Tennis Federation. During that time he trained and trained players like Pete Sampras, Jennifer Capriatti, Michael Chang, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Eugenie Bouchard, Sloane Stevens, Amanda Anasinova. Within the Academy I have the role of Head Coach and I am in charge of training the players with the best sports possibilities at different ages. Some with Professional Tennis projects and others betting on University Scholarships.
by CEDOC