Federico Agustin Gomez of Argentina (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
PARIS – Novak Djokovic’s words carry special meaning for Federico Gómez at the sweetest moment of his tennis career.
“As Djokovic said: ‘There’s always light at the end of the tunnel,’” he recalled on Tuesday during a press conference in Paris that felt different. Gómez was speaking after his first-ever Grand Slam win, expressing joy not just for the result, but for overcoming his inner struggles after going public with his mental health issues and suicidal thoughts.
The Argentine used the amplified platform of a Grand Slam to send a message to young players who might be going through dark moments.
“Open up in whatever way you can—you’re not alone. There are many ways to ask for help. Stay calm, everything will be okay,” he said.
“I’m happy to help other players or anyone who might be feeling that same kind of pain or insecurity. Talking about it may not be the solution, but it’s the foundation of a house, or the roots of a tree. It’s a good place to start.”
From Rock Bottom to Roland Garros
In March, Federico Gómez used his social media to share that he was going through the hardest time of his life.
“Living with thoughts of quitting tennis completely, seriously questioning if all of this is really worth it, and even, on many occasions, having suicidal thoughts—of not wanting to live anymore, of wanting to leave this world,” the Argentine wrote on March 2, 2025, on his Instagram account @fedegomez250.
His 4–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–1 win over North American Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round of the French Open felt like a reward for all the effort and everything he’s been through.
Twelve months ago, he was playing an ITF tournament in France, still far from the dream of reaching the second round at a major.
“When I think about how a year ago I was playing a 25K here in France, just a few hours from Paris… and now I’m in the second round of Roland Garros. It’s really special to be here,” Gómez, 28, said.
A Lucky Loser with a Champion’s Support
After winning the Carnac ITF in both singles and doubles in June 2024, Gómez travelled a few hours to Paris to watch his friend Francisco Cerúndolo play against Djokovic in the French Open fourth round. A year later, Paris had a different story in store for him.
In a tournament he entered as a lucky loser, Gómez was called up by Djokovic to practice with him—a gesture that’s becoming something of a habit. The former world No. 1 had already invited him to one of his training sessions at the Miami Masters, just days after Gómez’s emotional Instagram post.
“This time it was a real training session for both of us, since we were both preparing for the first round. In Miami, I wasn’t playing, so that session was fully tailored to what he needed,” Gómez explained.
“As always, he was a great person and a great teammate. He always greets me when we cross paths in the locker room or in the players’ lounge. That kind of thing makes me feel comfortable with him—I feel very supported by him and his team. You really couldn’t ask for a better way to prepare for a Grand Slam main draw.”
Federico Gómez will face Britain’s Cameron Norrie on Thursday for a place in the third round at Roland Garros.
Sebastián Varela
Journalist. Founder of CLAY, a global tennis media platform. Since 2012, Sebastián has covered multiple international events for various sports outlets, including the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Tennis is his specialty, and his yearly calendar is built around four essential stops: the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. His love of travel has also shaped his work beyond sports, inspiring travel chronicles from unique journeys — like crossing the Australian desert in a van or exploring a tourist-free Japan during the pandemic — published in travel magazines.
