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How fatherhood changed Pedro Martinez's fortunes

Spaniard to face Zverev at Australian Open
January 15, 2025
Marcel Granollers, Pedro Martinez, Martinez's son and Carlos Alcaraz.
Pedro Martinez
Marcel Granollers, Pedro Martinez, Martinez's son and Carlos Alcaraz. By Andrew Eichenholz

For nearly the entirety of 2023, Pedro Martinez was outside the Top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings. It was a difficult moment for the Spaniard, who struggled defending the points that had helped him reach World No. 40 the year prior.

But as tough as the 2023 season was, it was also the best year of his life in other ways. Martinez’s girlfriend, Claudia, gave birth to their son, Pedro Jr.

“I knew that I was going to be a father because she was pregnant, and a lot of emotions were in my mind, and then I had to manage everything at the beginning. It wasn't easy, but once the moment of the birth arrived, then everything was getting better and better,” Martinez told ATPTour.com. “I won two Challengers at the end of 2023 and my level went back again, I felt it. Since he was born, my level went up.

“Now when I'm on the Tour and I go to play the tournaments, I go full because, if not, I want to spend that time at home with my son.”

Claudia and Pedro Jr. did not make the trip to Australia because it would be a lot for a 13-month-old. However, the first thing Martinez did after advancing to the second round of the Australian OpenLuciano Darderi retired during their match — was video chat with his family.

“For me, the best moment of the day is when I call them and I see the little boy laughing,” Martinez said. “He started to run now, so it's very emotional for me, very special.”

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/pedro-martinez/mo44/overview'>Pedro Martinez</a>

Martinez, now 27, became a father at 26. He is keen to to continue succeeding on court so Pedro Jr. can watch him compete on the world’s biggest stages.

“That's something very special for a father, that your son can see what you are working and how you feel in sport and how is this life. So I think he will remember for the future,” Martinez said, before elaborating on what he enjoys about being a father. “I really like kids. I like to play with him, and now that he grew up a bit, we go to the park and he's starting to run. He's laughing all day. He only wants to play and we go to the playground. That's the best moment for me.”

Martinez also has six dogs. His girlfriend, Claudia, had one when they met. At most they had seven.

“We were adopting a lot of them. One passed away, so now we have six, but I have them. I don't take care of all of them because I'm playing and I'm on the Tour. So normally we take care of two,” Martinez said. “The others, one friend is taking care of them. But I sometimes go and visit them, and I pay everything for the dogs and two are with the parents of my girlfriend, and now we have a son, so it's even more difficult to take care of all of them. So now at home, we have two dogs and one kid.”

It All Adds Up

For a boy who grew up riding his skateboard to the Club de Tenis Alzira, south of Valencia, Martinez has accomplished a lot in the sport. The one-time ATP Tour titlist and seven-time ATP Challenger Tour champion travels the world playing the sport he enjoys and has even picked up languages — including Italian and a bit of French — just by being around them at tournaments.

But what he gets most excited for is an opportunity like he will have on Wednesday against second seed Alexander Zverev in the second round of the Australian Open. Zverev won their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting last year in Hamburg.

“I like the big stadiums. I like to play against the biggest opponents,” Martinez said. “He is number two now in the world, so it's a good opportunity for me. I have nothing to lose, and I'll go there and try to do my match, fight for my chances, and hopefully I will have some. I believe in myself, so I will try everything to go for the match.

“He's one of the top players for the past 10 years for me. He has big weapons, like his first serve and the backhand. It's amazing. Forehand is good as well, but maybe there you can have a little bit some chances. For sure, it's going to be a really tough match. He's the number two and one of the favourites to win the title. But as I told you before, I want to see what I can do. I have nothing to lose, and I'm very excited for these matches.”

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