Fernandez dares to dream of gold at Tokyo 2020

Since the last Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez has taken his game to new levels and claimed four Grand Slam singles titles and added a doubles crown to his haul.

Fernandez also became the maiden Latin American wheelchair tennis player to attain top spot in the world rankings in 2017, while the same year he was named ITF World Champion for the first time.

The 27-year-old now has designs on adding a Paralympic medal to his trophy collection, and believes his progress over the years – in 2019 he was on course for a calendar Grand Slam before defeat at the US Open – dares him to dream.

“I am really, really looking forward to the Paralympic Games,” said Fernandez. “It will be my third, so I have experience of the Games.

“I have always gone to the Paralympics thinking I might win. But this time, with the good years and the good work, and experience of having success, I am really aspiring for a medal and in particular a gold medal in singles.

“I am going there to try and achieve my dream. It is going to be really challenging and I like the challenge. Keep working and keep beating those challenges will make me a better player and a better person.”

If Fernandez was to achieve his goal – he has never previously gone beyond the quarter-finals at a Paralympic Games – he would become the first South American to medal at a Paralympic Tennis Event.

Winning under the banner of the Argentinian flag is not a new phenomenon for Rio Tercero-born Fernandez, but making history and succeeding on behalf of his nation in Tokyo would certainly resonate and mean a considerable amount.  

“It’s not that I play for Argentina only in the Paralympics or the World Team Cup,” he added. “I play for Argentina every time and for me it is very, very important to see it that way because Argentina made me what I am. I really value and respect that. It is a huge part of me.”

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic wheelchair tennis event starts on Friday 27 August (with the Opening Ceremony of the Games kicking off on Tuesday 24 August). The medal matches are due to take place on 1-4 September.

Click here for more information about the Paralympic schedule.