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The celebrations for Nicolas Jarry as he turned 28 at the 2023 Rolex Shanghai Masters were twofold.
First, there was progress to a maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal, as he defeated Diego Schwartzman in three hard-fought sets on Wednesday.
But arguably even better for Jarry was the chance to spend the special day with his family. The No.1 Chilean is joined in Shanghai this year by his wife, Laura and their two children.
Toddler Juan, who is 18 months old, delighted everyone watching as he shared a moment with his father on Center Court after his latest victory in Shanghai. The Jarry's second son, Santiago, is just two months old.
"I think this is my third or fourth birthday here in Shanghai. Usually I'm alone, very far from Chile, and the time zone, we're opposite, so usually I don't have anyone to call, just in the morning or in the night," Jerry said. "So, to be able to be with them is very special."
As he builds on a career-best season that has so delivered titles in Santiago and Geneva, Jarry's happy family life is adding to his positive outlook.
"Since I was able to start a family, I've been able to shift the perspective a little bit, (with a) greater, sense of what's really important," he explained.
"I'm trying to be able to get strong with what it is to have a family, to have more motivation on court, or have a bigger goal than just winning the matches."
Family and tennis have long been related for Jarry. His grandfather, Jaime Fillol, great-uncle, Alvaro Fillol, and uncle, Martin Rodriguez, are all former ATP players and his aunt, Catalina Fillol, is the tournament director of the Movistar Chile Open in Santiago.
There were therefore fond connections as Jarry lifted the trophy at the tournament earlier this year. In a memorable campaign, four of his five matches in his home-town event, including the final against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, extended to three sets.
Jarry collected the third title of his career in Geneva in equally impressive fashion, defeating Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov in the final rounds.
Entering the Rolex Shanghai Masters at a career-high world No.22, the Chilean measured his success in many ways. "I'm just trying to keep the momentum going, keep improving, keep learning what's better for me, what's not so good," he said.
"I'm trying to enjoy every moment outside of the court, trying to be more grateful, working on my mental part, not only in the game, but outside, just as a human being.
"I'm trying to give it all whenever I'm in my work that's in the gym or on court. It's less, trying to have less pressure of the result and more on give myself the 100 percent."
Progress to the quarterfinals in Shanghai will see Jarry becomes the top-ranked South American player and there's also earn the chance to crack the world's top 20.
But ahead of Jarry's next Shanghai match against Grigor Dimitrov, rankings were far from the main aim. =
"I'm very past rankings a long time ago," he explained. "I've been focused a lot in trying to improve, trying to be happier, enjoying more my life."
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