Darius, Matei, Adelina, Bogdan and Carla from the Jean-Louis CALDERON High School in Timisoara, Romania, wonder about the daily lives of very young high-level athletes. Direction l’Esone where Timeo TRUFELLI, young hope of French tennis answers their questions.
The name of Hugo Gaston is not yet well known in France outside of tennis circles. But his promising start caught the attention of Darius, Matei, Adelina, Bogdan and Carla from Lycée Jean-Louis CALDERON in Timisoara, Romania. They are asking our special correspondent to get an interview. But the start of the season was not very convincing for the day of 20 years and his agent refuses any interview, he even ends the telephone interview by hanging up on the journalist’s face.
Valérie ROHART will then see that the world of tennis is very closed. She then tries on the side of the women’s hopes but most of the players are in Australia for a tournament and we leave little hope for the possibility of an interview on their return …
Fortunately Globe Reporters is also a network of journalists and our special correspondent obtains the contact of Pascale TRUFELLI, the mother of a very young hope of French tennis: Timeo TRUFELLI.
She gladly accepts the interview for her son and the appointment is made the next day at her training location: at the Essonne Tennis Committee in Sainte Geneviève des Bois, about thirty kilometers south of Paris.
Timeo TRUFELLI was born in 2008, he is just 13 years old, he is in 5th grade but he has not been to school since last year: he follows his correspondence courses to be able to train all day in tennis. At the time of the interview, Timeo but also his family were in the midst of a dilemma: he was asked to join the “Pôle France”, that is to say the place of training for all French tennis players, but this presupposes that he be there full time and as it is in Poitiers, it also means leaving your family. A difficult choice.
Timeo TRUFELLI is only 13 years old but he is already ranked in the top 5 of the “2008”, ie players born in 2008. © Globe Reporters
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Timeo started playing tennis at the age of three and a half. At the time there was no club to accommodate such young children. © Globe Reporters
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Timeo plays rackets but his team is first and foremost his family who support him and ensure the logistics. © Globe Reporters
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Pascale TRUFELLI easily recognizes it: ensuring logistics is a heavy task which takes a lot of time and requires a lot of organization. © Globe Reporters
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Support Timeo in training, go find him, follow him in tournaments, follow his education, manage the sponsor he already has etc… and juggle his own work… a complicated journey for the mother. © Globe Reporters
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The Timeo club remains the club in which he started at the age of 3 and a half, but he also trains for the Essonne committee in Sainte Geneviève des Bois. © Globe Reporters
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Bullets… © Globe Reporters
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Other bullets… © Globe Reporters
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Timeo no longer has his class friends but he has his tennis friends, who if necessary, on the pitch, will become his opponents. © Globe Reporters
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Timeo’s role model is Roger Federer because besides his game he appreciates his personality. © Globe Reporters
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On the other hand, he doesn’t like Djokovic at all because of his attitude on the pitch: nervousness, throwing a ball or a racket… © Globe Reporters
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Timeo does not hide it: he wants to be champion. He does not consider any other path for him. © Globe Reporters
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A day of Time: 9 am-12am: tennis. 2 pm-3pm: physical preparation. 3 pm-5:30pm: tennis. © Globe Reporters
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Timeo has the mind of a champion: he never gives up. © Globe Reporters
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If he doesn’t have an injury, he can get where he wants, Timeo’s mom says. © Globe Reporters
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Timeo already has the quiet confidence of great champions. © Globe Reporters
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Could you introduce yourself? At what age did you start playing tennis?
How did your parents support you since childhood in your choice?
How to study and play tennis at the same time? Do you still manage to follow your studies? How high are you going to go?
How many hours do you spend playing tennis per week?
What is your motivation to win in the field? Each training is a match against an opponent?
Who is your idol in the tennis world? The last French to have won Roland Garros is Yannick Noah, 25 years before your birth, is he a model for you?
How does diet play an important role in sporting life? Do you have any prohibited foods?
Is it difficult to keep in touch with friends when you travel a lot?
Have you ever won tournaments?
Have you imagined another way if ever you did not reach the level you want in tennis? Does this life weigh you down a little sometimes?
What advice would you give to a child who intends to choose tennis as a sporting career?
Next week there is a deadline, an important decision for you to make. Can you explain to us which one?
To Timeo’s mom: Can you introduce yourself? What are the constraints for the parents of a child who has chosen a sports career? How do you get there?
When you are the mother of a future champion but who has been forced to leave school, what questions do you ask?
Timeo’s journey has repercussions on his little sister?
Tell us about Timeo’s beginnings in tennis …
Can you imagine yourself in four or five years in the stands at Roland Garros supporting your son?
Next week your son will have to decide whether to go to boarding school at Pôle France in Poitiers. How do you live this choice?
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