Son of World Cup star, Burruchaga celebrates maiden ATP Tour win

Roman Andres Burruchaga lifted his arms in the air and closed his eyes. The 22-year-old Argentine just defeated countryman and former World No. 8 Diego Schwartzman on Tuesday at the Cordoba Open.

Whether he meant it or not, Burruchaga’s celebration was in some ways akin to his father Jorge’s celebration after scoring the game-winning goal in the 1986 World Cup Final versus West Germany.

Fast forward 38 years and it was Roman who was the centre of attention, as he earned his maiden tour-level win in a three-set battle.

“I was really happy with the victory against Diego, a great player. He is like an icon for our country,” Burruchaga told ATPTour.com. “I was really happy and I enjoyed the victory. Now I have to focus on my next match.”

Burruchaga, who was a six-time semi-finalist on the ATP Challenger Tour last season, advanced through qualifying in Cordoba en route to his tour-level debut. Upon his main-draw entrance, his father Jorge made the 700-kilometre drive from Buenos Aires to Cordoba on Tuesday, the same day Roman competed against the 2020 finalist Schwartzman.

“He asked me if he can come to Cordoba to watch the match and I said, 'Of course, you can come here, you are my dad!'” Burruchaga said.

Though Roman also grew up playing football at River Plate Club in Buenos Aires, at age eight he shifted his attention more to tennis.

It was perfectly fitting that Burruchaga won Tuesday’s milestone match in the same complex where his father scored his first goal in the Argentine Primera Division — a penalty kick at the Mario Kempes Stadium, which lies just a few metres from the Cordoba Open’s main court.

ATP Tour Main Draw Debut ✔️
ATP Tour Main Draw Win ✔️

Special night for Roman Andres Burruchaga as he defeats Schwartzman 6-1 4-6 6-4 👏@CordobaOpen| #CórdobaOpen pic.twitter.com/Ab4W1Fh8sD

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 7, 2024

Coached by former World No. 21 Leonardo Mayer and Miguel Pastura, Burruchaga boasted a 35-29 Challenger-match record in 2023, with his best result being a final appearance in Brasilia.

The two-time tour-level titlist Mayer started working with Burruchaga a year ago, bringing valuable lessons to the youngest Argentine in the Top 200 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

“He has a lot of experience and I really like that from him,” Burruchaga said. “We are working and improving a lot. I'm really happy with him, he's a good coach.”

At a career-high No. 159 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, Burruchaga, who grew up idolising Novak Djokovic, will next face seventh seed Yannick Hanfmann in the ATP 250 second round. In the stands will once again be Burruchaga’s father, who is still celebrated in Argentina for his historic World Cup clinching goal.

“In Argentina, he’s a very famous person,” Burruchaga said. “They love him a lot because of that goal.”

^{Jorge Burruchaga, far right, scores the winning goal during the 1986 World Cup final. Credit: Staff/AFP via Getty Images}