Thiago Tirante: From the Davis Cup to the Rio Open, the journey of a tennis player seeking to establish himself

The player recently returned from South Korea with a mix of emotions. His Davis Cup debut left deep emotional scars but also invaluable lessons. Just days later, with jet lag still affecting him, Thiago Tirante appeared at the Rio Open to compete in what would be his first major title in the professional circuit. His arrival in the second week of the Brazilian tournament, combined with his recent experience in the Davis Cup, marks a turning point in his career: the consolidation of his professional maturity.

The debut that changed perspective: South Korea and the first lessons

When Javier Frana, captain of the Argentine tennis team, called, Thiago Tirante didn’t hesitate. Sacrificing his participation in the Buenos Aires ATP to travel to Busan to represent Argentina was a difficult decision, but the opportunity to defend the Argentine colors in the Davis Cup weighed more than any other consideration. As the top singles player in the series, the 24-year-old faced tough opponents on fast courts with low bounces, where conditions were against him.

“The court was very fast, with very low bounce, and the balls were very heavy,” Thiago Tirante recalled about the conditions in Busan. His first match, a win over Hyeon Chung (2-6, 7-5, 7-6), was an indication that he could compete at that level. His second match, a loss to Soonwoo Kwon (6-4, 4-6, 6-3), ended a series that eliminated Argentina in the qualifiers. But beyond the result, Thiago Tirante learned that he could “adapt, bring out the best in myself, and be up to the challenge” under extreme pressure.

The media attention was intense. “It was a mix of good and bad,” he explained about how he processed external comments. “From ‘they brought the C team’ to ‘the heroes of Busan.’ Always in the media, in the people, on social media, there are people who talk without knowing.” Alongside Frana, Edu Schwank, and his coach Miguel Pastura, Thiago Tirante chose to “shield himself” and focus solely on the game. The team concentrated, isolated themselves from external noise, and although “we gave our 100% and it wasn’t enough,” the experience was transformative.

Immediate resurrection: Rio Open and rising ranking

Just a week later, Thiago Tirante arrived in Rio de Janeiro still affected by jet lag. However, his performance at the Rio Open marked a breakthrough. His victory over Cristian Garin (7-5, 6-3), the tournament winner in 2020, was his first significant win in a main draw of a 500-category event. This result, along with his progress in the tournament, propelled him to a ranking of 83rd in the world, a nine-place improvement that continued to climb based on his performance.

For Thiago Tirante, playing on clay after several months (his last tournament on that surface was in October) was a return to his roots. “Against Garin, it was my first match on clay after several months. I had finished the year on hard courts and started on that surface, which I love.” As the No. 1 junior in December 2019, Thiago Tirante always showed a predisposition for that type of court. His aunts, Vanesa and Valeria, trained him at a private club owned by his grandfather in La Plata with the goal of developing an aggressive style of tennis.

“Since I was a kid, I always liked fast clay courts or hard courts. My shots worked better there, my serve was more damaging,” he reflected on his technical evolution. Although in his development he lost “many matches trying things out, I got frustrated as a kid because I lost by taking risks,” over time “things started to fall into place.” Today, that aggressiveness that characterizes him, tempered by mental maturity, has become his strength.

Mental growth as a catalyst for performance

Thiago Tirante attributes his recent evolution to something deeper than technique: emotional maturity. Two years ago, he began working with Pablo Pécora, a psychologist who previously worked with figures like Gastón Gaudio and Juan Martín del Potro. “That part, the emotion, always cost me as a kid, and I think with him I found a good connection and built trust.”

The impact is clear. “I feel an evolution in my game, but I feel I’ve matured a lot mentally in the last year. It was what I was missing to fully consolidate myself. Now I see myself improving all the time, even if just a little.” Deep sessions with Pécora and his coach Miguel Pastura, known as “El Colo,” have transformed his competitive approach. “I win or lose matches, but by very little. This growth is worked on and sought after.”

The emotional lesson: Between defeat and pride

What stayed with Thiago Tirante from South Korea wasn’t just the loss. It was the moment afterward, when the team gathered to say goodbye. “I cried, I cried a lot,” he admitted about that group talk that marked the end of the experience. “It was a pretty strong release because of how the week had been, with nerves and uncertainty about what could happen.”

Frana’s words echoed: “Davis Cup is heaven or hell, there’s no middle ground.” For Thiago Tirante, this time he had to write the difficult page. But amid the pain, something positive emerged. “I take away the importance and the confirmation that we all gave our best, that the whole team was committed.” He keeps photos from the trip, revisiting them often, including the broken shoes from his first match. Because even though “it wasn’t enough,” the experience left an indelible mark.

The confirmation came days later in Buenos Aires. Walking toward the Lawn Tennis Club for the ATP, strangers approached him: “Thiago, Thiago… Thanks for representing us in Davis, you’re a great player.” For someone who describes himself as “a normal person,” the emotional impact was profound. “I did it for everything: for the country, for Argentine tennis, for myself. The opportunity came, and when Javi called me, I said yes immediately.”

Today, as he advances in the circuit and solidifies his position in the rankings with wins like Garin’s, Thiago Tirante hasn’t ruled out returning to Davis Cup. “I’d love to feel the same again, to wear the Argentina shirt and feel pride.” It’s not about revenge but about continuing a journey that’s just beginning. He’s already “got the debut backpack off his back.” Now, the question is how high he can go.