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American Marcos Giron says that entering the Australian Open main draw by winning the USTA Australian Open Men's Wild Card Challenge makes him feel like he has earned his spot there. Speaking to the Australian Open website, the 26-year-old Giron says, "It definitely makes me feel better.
It really makes me feel like I've earned a spot there. Technically I'm not in right now (with my current ranking) but I do believe that I really kind of earned my spot there. Being so close really does validate that, (that) over the course of a year that I've earned a spot there, and that it's not necessarily a one-week fluke.
This is going to be my first time going to the Australian Open – for it to be the main draw is just spectacular. I've always believed that I had the level, but there were many times where my mind let me down, and maybe a little self-confidence or belief on the very important moments (was missing).
In 2018, I think I lost 20-plus matches when I was up a set and break against very good players. I just had to take a step back, look at things objectively, and how can I improve, and play my best when it mattered most. I would say that's where my biggest improvement was." Giron will be playing in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for just the second time in his career.
He has won 2 ATP challenger titles and 6 ITF Futures titles in his career so far. He is currently ranked a career-best No. 102 in the world rankings right now and hopes to climb towards the Top 50 in the coming year. Giron says that seeing so many players play well into their 30s has given him confidence that he can continue playing for several more years.
"It really helps give me belief seeing so many players achieve so much later into their 30s. It really gives me the belief that I can do this for another 10 years. I keep getting better every year -- hopefully, I can keep improving.
I still feel young, and I still feel I can compete for a long time. I'm in good shape, my body feels good and that's really all I can ask for. And I'm going do my best to execute my game. And so we'll see. Hopefully, it works well”.
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