Eagle-eyed football fans studying the junior entry lists at Wimbledon might have noticed the name Burruchaga in the top quarter of the boys’ singles draw.
For those who know their FIFA World Cup history, the name will forever be associated with the 1986 final in Mexico, when Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 in the final. In the 84th minute, Jorge Burruchaga latched on to a through ball from Diego Maradona and slotted home the winner in front of 114,000 fans inside the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
While the 56-year-old does have a professional football-playing son – Mauro is a midfielder for Italian Serie B side Chievo – Burruchaga has also introduced the family name into the world of tennis.
Seventeen-year-old Roman Andres Burruchaga stepped onto a grass court for the first time last week in Roehampton and won two matches to qualify for the boys’ singles at the All England Club, his second junior Grand Slam after playing at Roland-Garros last month.
Also in the draw was Christian Lerby, son of former Danish international midfielder Soren Lerby, who also appeared in the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The sons were drawn to meet in the second round at Roehampton but Lerby lost his first match.
Although Burruchaga, the junior world No.69, lost to the No.8 seed Shintaro Mochizuki 7-5, 7-6(3) in round two on Wednesday, and exited the boys’ doubles with Brazilian partner Natan Rodrigues at the same stage a day later, his first taste of tennis on the turf has been positive.
“It was my first time on grass and I enjoyed it,” he said. “We only have two grass courts in Buenos Aires but they're a long way from where I train. My first time on grass was at Roehampton last week and then here. I hope to come back next year.”
Burruchaga senior – as well as Roman’s football-pro brother Mauro – were both courtside in SW19 for another memorable chapter in the family’s sporting history. "It was my first time in this mythical place,” Jorge said. “For someone that has been in the world of sports for 40 years – and with an interest in tennis myself – this is the place I wanted to visit.
“My decision was to come to see my son play – it's the best decision a dad can take, to come and support him in his early days. I've always liked tennis. When I was playing for Nantes [between 1985 and 1992] everyone played and at the beginning I didn't even know how to hold a racket. My French teacher got me into it and at first I was not good – until I learned!”
For now, he’ll keep the technical advice to a minimum but as a national sporting hero he can play a key role in helping his son navigate the journey from elite junior sport to a professional career. According to Roman, his father is an invaluable source of guidance off court.
“It's a positive thing having a dad who has been a pro footballer. He knows professional sport. He's given me a lot of advice. He understands the problems too - the emotions, good moments, bad moments.”
As well as learning on the match court at Wimbledon, the teenager, who is based at the Monachesi and Hood Tennis Academy in Buenos Aires, has benefited from rubbing shoulders with the group of established Argentine ATP pros.
“We trained with the Argentine guys here - I trained with Guido Pella,” he said. “The juniors know some of the pros, they're good guys and for us it's great experience to hit with ATP players. Mariano Hood is the coach of Leonardo Mayer and Mariano Monachesi coaches Federico Delbonis, and there's a lot of other players [at the academy] who are playing Futures and Challengers.”
Next on the agenda once he’s back in South America is some rest before returning to training to plan his next move. “I'll talk to my coach and decide what I need to play. I think I'll be at the boys' event at the US Open.”
