The comeback of the Golden Boy… Carlos Montoto

Everybody knows Carlos. He’s been a standard of reference in the league since he started competing a few years back. His story is short of amazing: A fellow Argentinian player that got to an incredible level in his 20s playing interclub for some of the best teams in Buenos Aires, and also a regular in the Top Serve (professional) tournaments back in the day. I remember his name in the rankings on the veterans’ league in Argentina. He was always among the candidates for the trophy. Fast forward to Montréal, and after dominating the rankings in +35s, he got a severe injury a couple of years ago. After a long and painful recovery, “Charlie” came back and started getting back his old himself.

Last year he made an impressive first half of the year with victories in Boucherville, and Laval; third place at the Eastern Canadian Championship… but again a minor injury kept him aside for some time. He tried to rush things coming back at Carrefour Laval Outdoor in September. It turned out to be a bad call. He skipped the reminder of the season.

In 2014 Charlie got a great start, got final in Boucherville, playing a fantastic 3-set match against his buddy Olivier Borlée. He didn’t play in Québec, neither in the Eastern Canadian, but went for Carrefour Laval. He was on a roll there. He got passed his opponents with ease. Yet in the final, he was not able to deliver.

Charlie gave me a call after his loss and agreed to start hitting on a more regular basis to help him get back in form. We certainly did so… by the second straight week, I could barely keep myself in the rallies. His balls were flying past me like scud missiles, landing inches away from the baseline and destroying everything around. It was like playing against an US Army drone.

CDL was the next challenge and Charlie went on to beat Demers, Salhany, and his Laval conqueror, Richard Lacombe in the final: 6-0, 5-7, 6-1. The Golden Boy was back!!... And he wants more.

He promised me an exclusive interview. It’s going to be great fun. I will post it of course.

See you in the hunt.

Yours,

IRON GAUCHO