Marcos Giron is playing the best tennis of his life at 32

PHOENIX—At 32, Marcos Giron has hit his stride like never before to open a season.

In a year that began with consecutive ATP semifinals in Hong Kong and Auckland, Giron has kept pace with almost every competitor he’s shared the court with thus far—even in defeat.

“I do think this is the best tennis I’ve been playing of my life, this first quarter,” he declares to TENNIS.com. “Lost a couple tough ones in February and one against [Jakub] Mensik [in Indian Wells] last week. You’re only as good as your next point, really.”

Giron was edged out by eventual quarterfinalist Learner Tien in a fifth set to drop his first-rounder at the Australian Open. Three of his other narrow losses have come at the hands of Top 15 opponents.

I’m playing guys like Learner and he’s 12 years younger, it’s crazy. I still know I have a good game and the best is in front.

Alexander Bublik rallied from a set down to advance in Hong Kong. Taylor Fritz came out on top in a final-set tiebreaker at the Dallas Open, ahead of Casper Ruud holding on to win after being two points from exiting in Delray Beach. At the BNP Paribas Open, the 12th-ranked Mensik battled to a 7-5, 7-6 (1) victory.

“The margins are so small. Fritz is 6-foot-5 and has one of the best serves in the world. Mensik serves great. A few of them, I lost a couple of 'breakers where it’s like, 'Too bad.' But they’ll also turn and go my way. I’m playing great tennis,” believes Giron.

A day after sharing that perspective, that’s exactly what happened at the Phoenix Challenger. The Thousand Oaks, Calif. native denied University of Arizona standout Jay Friend in a dramatic finish, saving four match points to pull off a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9) victory.

Giron next meets two-time Arizona Tennis Classic champion Nuno Borges, as he looks to continue making the most of his debut appearance at the 175-level Challenger.

“With Indian Wells being the home tournament, that one has a lot of emotional weight. So I’m always tired,” he says. “Coming here, the level is so good. There’s a little bit less pressure here than a Masters 1000 but I do see it as an opportunity to get into a good rhythm for Miami.”

Two hip surgeries early in his career are long a footnote of the past, as Giron’s determination and desire to evolve as a player is reflected in being ranked inside the Top 100 every week since Aug. 31, 2020. The 2014 NCAA champion, who peaked at No. 37 in August 2024 shortly after capturing his maiden ATP title at Newport, is most fulfilled that his love for the sport and competition hasn’t wavered all these years later and that he's found ways to elevate his skills to new heights.

“There’s a lot of losses and it’s easy to get down on yourself. I’m fortunate that I’ve got the disposition that I feel like good things are gonna come. I’m proud to keep pushing and working at it,” he reflects.

“I’m playing guys like Learner and he’s 12 years younger, it’s crazy. I still know I have a good game and the best is in front.”