The Nomadic Life… with Facundo Diaz Acosta

Facundo Diaz Acosta’s life changed dramatically one year ago when he won the IEB+ Argentina Open. Since then, he has enjoyed countless new career experiences; from breaking into the Top 50 in the PIF ATP Rankings last April, to claiming his first win in the main draw of a Grand Slam event in August at the US Open.

But the 24-year-old Argentine is not intimidated by his new status. He is always ready to fly high, and to deal with everything that might come with it. He made that much clear when he spoke to ATPTour.com about how he copes with the intense nature of life as a top pro.

Before embarking on his title defence at the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires, the current World No. 70 recalled some of his most memorable stories from his global tennis journey, including when he travelled for over 40 hours from Egypt to Chile in order to play qualifying at an ATP Challenger Tour event, and another when he packed two right shoes for a tournament!

Which non-tennis related things do you always pack when you travel?
Headphones for flights. They’re essential! I also take maté (a traditional South American herbal drink) everywhere. It’s like another companion to me. I also always have my tablet to watch series and films. I like it because it distracts me a bit.

Have you ever forgotten to pack anything important?
Once I went to play a qualifier at an ATP 250 in Argentina, in Cordoba. It was a couple of years ago. I remember I was coming from another tournament in Chile, and I spent some time at my house in Buenos Aires. I slept for three hours, and in that time I packed and repacked my suitcase. And I put two right shoes in. I only realised when I got to the tournament!

What did you do?
Luckily, my coach was the same size as me, and he gave me a left shoe. He wanted to kill me! I was so worried, imagine, I was about to play and when I went to put my shoes on, I had two for my right foot. Luckily, I was five hours from home, and it was easy for them to send the correct shoes for the next match.

What is your favourite city on Tour?
Buenos Aires. And Madrid because it’s very similar to Buenos Aires because of the people, the food, the customs... they make me feel at home. I like that because I travel so much.

What is your favourite holiday destination?
I have one, but I haven’t been there yet. I’d like to go to the south of Argentina: to Bariloche, San Martin de los Andes and Villa La Angostura. From what I’ve heard and from photos, it’s a stunning [area]. I’d really like to see it.

How do you get over jet lag after a long journey?
Honestly, I find it pretty hard. It takes me a couple of days to get over it. I try not to have a siesta all day, to hold on for as long as I can and to sleep early. Because if I have a siesta I won’t sleep again.

When did you find it hardest to get over it?
Coming back from Australia I really struggled. It’s 14 hours difference from Buenos Aires. For four or five days at home, I only slept two or three hours at night. I was a zombie during the day.

How do you protect your body during long flights?
I don’t do anything special. I just sleep. A lot, luckily. And when I’m awake, I just try to distract myself by watching something on my tablet.

What’s your craziest travel story?
It was shortly after the pandemic. I was playing in some Futures events in Egypt. At the time it was the only place I could get into with my ranking. But I remember I entered a Challenger qualifier in South America at the last minute. I went from Egypt to Concepcion, via Turkey and Santiago. It was 40 hours of flying. We arrived and I had to play both days. With the jet lag and the flight, I was destroyed, I lost in the second round of qualies. It was one of the craziest things I’ve done. But it often happens. That’s the way this is. You enter a better tournament and you want to get there, no matter what. That happens all the time.

Editor's note: This story was translated from ATPTour.com/es