20.09.2020
21:08
Her father was an Argentine footballer who shone in the Mexican First Division, but the 15-year-old tennis player preferred rackets over balls and seeks to be number one in the world
By Eduardo AlavezSeptember 20, 2020 Share on FacebookShare Share on TwitterTweet Share on WhatsAppShare
The now 15-year-old girl decided to dedicate her “free” hours to white sports (Photo: Courtesy / Gala Arangio)
Sometimes defeats are a revelation, like the one young Gala Arangio had . A few years ago, the tennis player lost in a tournament in Mérida , Yucatán, which drowned her in a sea of tears like that of the White City.
With the salt running down her cheeks, she told her parents decisively: “I want to dedicate myself to this, I want to be number 1 in the world of tennis . “ Since then, the Mexican-Argentine has been dedicated to the sport of rackets.
His destiny could be different. His father, Germán, was a distinguished soccer player who shone in the Toros Neza of the First Division in Mexico and is now the franchise manager in the Mexican Football League (LBM). Instead, her mother, Sol, is passionate about the arts , who studied classical ballet and singing.
However, the now 15-year-old girl decided to dedicate herself to white sport . “Football, obviously because of my dad, I love to watch it, but in tennis I feel a connection, it is my passion,” she said determinedly and with the voice of a girl still in an interview with Infobae Mexico .
It all started with a racket
Arangio wants to build his own style of play, which, he noted, “is the most complicated thing” (Photo: Courtesy / Gala Arangio)
During a move, her mother gave Gala a racket and started playing on a paddle tennis court (similar to tennis, but with paddles). “The truth is that it was a coincidence. I loved it so much that now I always want to be on the court and the court is like my home, “he said with enthusiasm.
His life changed in several aspects after his decision to be a professional athlete, including at school. Although online classes are common in these times of pandemic, Arangio entered this system earlier to combine his studies with training and trips to competitions.
She studies at the Enlightium Academy , a private Christian school in the United States. On the website of the academy, it indicates that it is accredited by the non-governmental organization Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI, for its acronym in English).
The young woman has three nationalities: she is Argentine by her family, Mexican by birth and Italian by her ancestors (Photo: Courtesy / Gala Arangio)
“I know three languages, Spanish, English and Italian and I am learning the fourth which is French. The truth is that I love languages and I love learning, I am a very studious girl and I take it very, very seriously at school, ”said the young woman, adding that she also wants to study to be a film director.
After her study time, Gala goes to the courts under her mother’s training for six hours . Due to the health emergency of COVID-19, the teenager continues her preparation in a hotel in Cancun, where youth tennis tournaments are played.
“ We were always a very united, unstoppable team and we agreed on many things . When not, we challenge each other to do our best. That is why I chose to train with my mother ”, he indicated.
The lucky country
His father, Germán, was a distinguished footballer who shone in the Toros Neza of the First Division in Mexico and is now the franchise manager in the LBM (Photo: Courtesy / Neza FC)
Gala doesn’t have a favorite soccer team . There is no Boca or River. There is no Blue Cross or America. However, despite his Argentine roots, he assured that he supports the Mexican team when they play their games.
However, he has not yet decided which country he will represent when his tennis career grows. The young woman has three nationalities: she is Argentine by her family, Mexican by birth and Italian by her ancestors , which up to now is the fortunate nation she represents.
“It is a very difficult decision. If you hear me speak, I speak as a Mexican, but my whole family is from Argentina: it’s like a 50-50. Not really in Italy, because I feel it more from afar, since I didn’t live there for long and neither did my family. So it ‘s between Argentina and Mexico, ”she said doubtfully.
Arangio started representing the Mexican Tennis Federation (FMT) in the Under-12 category. He won several state tournaments in San Luis Potosí and Monterrey and reached a Master’s final. However, he now plays for the nation of La Bota because of the competition in this country.
Gala spends about six hours a day on the courts under her mother’s training (Photo: Courtesy / Gala Arangio)
“My family decided to take us to Europe to find more competition instead of staying here and being able to keep winning. We decided to go to Italy and test my level of competence . It is a difficult decision because the sponsors care about the ranking. Now I am 2.6 from Italy and little by little the doors are opening for me, ”he said.
His mother explained that the support of this sport in Latin America is complex. ” Latin American women are not supported and that is important, because if you have good talents it is very important that you support them,” she lamented.
When you are building a player, as is the case with Gala, it is not easy to get people to support you
“Tennis is a totally different sport than soccer. In football, the team hires you and he takes care of the expenses, here you cover everything . And in difficult times, such as the pandemic, there are many expenses, “said Sol, who indicated that the economic effort per year could be around USD 60,000 for its logistics.
Gala Arangio’s dream
Gala recreates the offense of Serena Williams, the clean technique of Roger Federer and the incredible claw of Rafael Nadal (Photo: Courtesy / Gala Arangio)
The young tennis player commented that she likes to take “little things” from each athlete to make their own game. For example, recreate the offense of the American Serena Williams , the clean technique of the Swiss Roger Federer and the incredible claw of the Spanish Rafael Nadal .
Even so, Gala goes her own way and already has her first goals for the next six months, if the pandemic allows it. “I hope to get professional points and climb from 15 to 25 thousand, 60 thousand, 100 thousand,” he said.
In addition, he wants to build his own style of play, which, he noted, “is the most complicated.” “You have to look for the result, but you also have to play what you train and not lose your technique , everything you have learned. That is what I seek, to get professional points, but at the same time to improve my level of play ”, he explained.
Finally, he sent a message to all the people who are chasing a dream. “That they do not let themselves fall, it is the most important thing, and that they continue fighting. That they believe in themselves to be able to achieve their own dream, because for me it is very important to reach the hearts of the people ”, concluded the young promise of three different nations.
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