In tennis, where there is intense competition and tremendous pressure to succeed, a seasoned champion’s advice can make all the difference. Such is the case of Thiago Monteiro, who recently achieved a tremendous victory over the No. 6 seed, Stefanos Tsitsipas. But did you know Monteiro was ready to quit tennis at just 15 years old? But he didn’t. All thanks to Gustavo Kuerten.

Quite early in his childhood, Thiago Monteiro found himself defeating opponents who were training in prestigious academies. Naturally, his talent caught the attention of Larri Passos, who was a coach of the Brazilian tennis legend Gustavo Kuerten. Therefore, he started training at an academy owned by him at 14. However, Monteiro, in an interview, revealed how he had his challenges there, facing young pros and being in an environment completely different from where he grew up.

“But it wasn’t always easy. Everyone was doing physical training, recovery, and tennis practice every day. I wasn’t used to that intensity. Just a few months after I moved away from home, I was ready to quit,” Thiago Monteiro said. However, it was during this time that the three-time Roland Garros champion’s wisdom, Gustavo Kuerten, came in handy.

“Guga told me that the year before he won his first Roland Garros, he didn’t have sponsor support, and he was about to go to the United States to try to find his way as a pro. But things started to happen. And the next year, he won his first Grand Slam,” Monteiro added. With 20 singles titles to his name, Kuerten’s achievement was indeed inspiring for many young athletes.

Although he had to retire after his hip surgeries in 2008, he was a firm believer in persevering through adversity. And he imparted that wisdom to Monteiro as well. “He taught me that tough situations come for everybody, and it’s up to you to cope with the situation. It was very inspirational,” Thiago Monteiro concluded. This advice brought a shift to his perspective on struggles. As he started training with him, he found his idol in Kuerten.

“That was the guy I wanted to be in tennis,” Thiago Monteiro stated of his idol, Kuerten.

When Thiago Monteiro moved to the south of Brazil, he was just 14 years old. Although he played exceptionally well on the court, he admitted that it was Guga and his brothers who provided him with shelter and an opportunity to pursue his dreams. He recalled how Guga and his brother became his “agents.” “They supported me to move and paid for my practice and my housing. Guga would even help me practice a little bit when I was 15 or 16. He was No. 1 in the world!”

By implying the profound impact he has had on Monteiro, he further continued, “That was the guy I wanted to be in tennis with, so that helped my confidence a lot when I was a junior.” And inspired by Kuerten, he went on to become the No. 2 Brazilian tennis player in the world. Fans are now excited to see how he climbs up the ladder of success like his own idol.