Mariano Navone on making dream come true, hamburger reward: First-Time Winner Spotlight | ATP Tour

First Time Winner

Mariano Navone on making dream come true, hamburger reward: First-Time Winner Highlight

Argentine speaks solely to ATPTour.com after triumphing in Bucharest

April 05, 2026

Mariano Navone gained the primary ATP Tour title of his profession Sunday on the Tiriac Open presented by UniCredit Bank, defeating Daniel Merida 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 within the ultimate.

After the match, the Argentine caught up with ATPTour.com to mirror on making his dream come true, the rewards he’s giving himself, trying as much as Novak Djokovic and David Nalbanian, and extra.

What does it imply to win your first ATP Tour title?
It’s all the things I dreamed from after I was a child. If you end up a child, you’re looking on the ATP and whenever you’re trying on the ATP you say, ‘I wish to be Djokovic’. I’m not Djokovic for certain, however I gained the primary title, so I [did] one thing he [did], so I’m very completely satisfied for that. It’s a variety of happiness. The phrase for the ultimate is happiness.

How particular is it to do it in Bucharest after reaching the ultimate right here in 2024? 
I’ve many emotions from right here. I’ve been right here so much after I performed Futures [ITF World Tennis Tour events], after I performed Challengers additionally. So I’ve an excellent relationship from 2020 with Bucharest, with Romania.

The folks I believe are similar to Argentines. They’re passionate, they’re individuals who love [fun] issues. We’ve got an excellent relationship as a result of I’m a enjoyable man, generally I wish to present the place, the group, all the things. I believe now we have a really particular relationship.

What did you study out of your earlier two ATP Tour finals?  Within the first with Baez I used to be nervous. I made the ultimate [from the] qualies. I used to be slightly bit drained, additionally. However Baez performed unbelievable and he taught me all the things within the ultimate.

In the second with Marton, I used to be slightly bit higher. The rating was robust, however Marton that day was a really robust participant. He made the pictures robust and he went to the online. I keep in mind he made an excellent recreation in opposition to me. It was all for him.

The third one I mentioned, ‘Preserve pushing, preserve going’. We had an excellent likelihood to play the ball inside [the court], to play with topspin… I believe I needed to benefit from the ultimate.

You saved two match factors within the semi-finals in opposition to Van de Zandschulp, what does that say about your mentality? 
I believe it says so much as a result of if I missed a ball I had that match, possibly I’d lose. As a result of [in the past] I misplaced many matches like this. However yesterday was a very, actually particular battle. I used to be 3-5, Benefit down and I put all of the balls inside. I put all the things in that recreation, additionally within the subsequent recreation to take the second set. My mentality in that second was essential.

I mentioned on a regular basis, ‘Come on, come on. Preserve going, another, another, another’. And I believe that that’s the mentality that makes champs right here in Bucharest.

Who’re some folks you want to dedicate this trophy to?
To my household, for certain. To my household. My household stayed so much with me up to now months. My mother, my dad. They taught me all the things after I grew up in my city. It was a very good affect. Additionally my sisters, my sisters are particular. They reside for me, they stick with me in all of the moments. They’re at all times chatting [to] me, ‘Hello! How are you? How do you are feeling?’ However not about Mariano the tennis [player], the human. Mariano the human is most vital for them. I’m [very] grateful for my household.

And likewise, all my coaches I had in my profession. Proper now Luli (Mancini) with Dante (Gennaro) additionally Andy (Delatorre), Fede, Maxi, Matías, Guillermo, my first one, and in addition one particular one who taught me so much within the psychological half, Leandro Veron, from Junin. I used to be 16 after I was there. In some tournaments I wished to retire from tennis and he [kept] me in the proper method and the way in which to play. I really like him, I chat daily with him, so I’m very grateful for him.

How will you be celebrating? 
I wish to eat [a] hamburger proper now with french fries and one coke and that’s it. Now I’m so drained, however possibly I’ll go to the match of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona on Wednesday. It’s an excellent factor to make for me.

You say Djokovic and Nalbandian are your idols, what makes them particular for you?
All the pieces, as a result of Djokovic is the GOAT proper now. Nalbandian is among the most particular gamers in my life, it’s unbelievable. The way in which he performed I beloved. I believe I discovered so much from these two guys on the backhand aspect. It’s actually particular.

Now we’re sharing some tournaments with Djoko, additionally with Nalbandian. He’s Dimitrov’s coach proper now. It’s actually particular, as a result of they taught me so much on TV. I used to be rising up seeing these guys on TV, so It’s a very nice feeling to share with these guys tennis proper now.