Navone’s lightbulb moment before Top 50 breakthrough

Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour

Mariano Navone has quietly established himself as a rising force on the ATP Tour. Having competed in just six Tour-level events, the Argentine has made at least the semi-finals in half of them.

The 23-year-old, who eight weeks ago was World No. 113 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is now at a career-high No. 41. A finalist at the ATP 500 in Rio and in Bucharest, Navone used the ATP Challenger Tour as a springboard last season. Just 12 months ago, Navone did not even have a Challenger trophy to his name. But he went on an unstoppable run in the second half of 2023, winning a season-leading five Challenger crowns.

“The Challengers prepared me for everything. The level is high in Challengers, many people outside the Top 100 win matches at the ATP level,” Navone told ATPTour.com at the Sardegna Open in Italy. “The first 200 players are a little bit near, the difference is [small]. When I won my first Challenger, I was feeling different. I played many Challengers against tough players and I did great. I had a click in my head, ‘You can make it.’”

^{Mariano Navone greets a fan at the Cagliari Challenger. Credit: Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour}

Navone gained a drastic confidence boost in Rio de Janeiro, where as a qualifier he did not have any expectations for results, instead just looking to soak in his first ATP 500 experience. In the first round, Navone overcame countryman Federico Coria and he did not stop there. Battling through humid conditions all week, Navone advanced to his first ATP Tour final.

Elsewhere in South America, Navone’s hometown club, Club Atletico 9 de Julio, where he began playing tennis at age three, hosted a watch party to cheer on one of their own play the biggest match of his career.

“When I saw the photo, the people I’ve known since I was a child, it was special. It’s special when you grow up in a little club and many people know you, they see you day by day and then you are seen on the big TV,” Navone said. “When I was a child, I wished to play in a big stadium. It was a really good experience in the final and to have so many people together to watch me.”

Now Navone is reaping the rewards of his hard work and enjoying new experiences. Last week in Madrid, he pushed 11th seed Holger Rune to three sets, during which the Argentine served for the match and was two points from victory.

Navone’s rise has gone so fast that despite being in the Top 50 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Roland Garros will mark his major main-draw debut.

“Some things have changed. Before Rio, I was 113 and after I was 60. So many points in one week. Many experiences are new,” said Navone, whose nickname is ‘La Navoneta’.

The precursor to Navone’s early-season breakthrough came in his final three Challenger tournaments of last year. He won 14 of 15 matches to close the 2023 season, including back-to-back title runs on home soil.

“When I won Santa Fe and Buenos Aires back-to-back at home with my family and my girlfriend and friends, it was really, really special. It’s one that I remember,” Navone said. “The best memory was these two tournaments because I played so well and I think all the people watching at home enjoyed my match.”