Sebastián Cozzarín: the Argentine physiotherapist of Tommy Paul and Jessica Pegula | ATP Tour

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Sebastián Cozzarín: Tommy Paul and Jessica Pegula’s Argentine physiotherapist

The Buenos Aires native, former rugby player, talks about his work with both tennis players

August 29, 2024

Tommy Paul and Jessica Pegula not only have in common that they belong to the tennis elite — he is No. 14 in the PIF ATP Rankings and she is no less than No. 6 in the WTA — but they also share similar visions on how to manage their bodies in competition. There is a reason they have the same physical therapist, Argentine Sebastián Cozzarín.

Born in Buenos Aires in 1984, they owe a large part of their current good form to him. “They are still human. Being tennis players, it is very likely that they will have an injury because they demand the maximum from their body and generate more than 100% stress, but our job is to prevent and try to make the injury as late and minor as possible,” he explains in a chat with ATPTour.com.

Before warming up for a match or practice, Paul and Pegula pass through Cozzarín’s hands without fail, as he does preventative exercises for areas such as the ankles, spine, shoulders, wrists and cervical vertebrae. In both cases, he pays more attention to areas with past injuries, such as the hips of both of them. Once they get off the stretcher, they continue exercising the same parts, but on the floor, and finish with stretching.

The routine lasts almost an hour. And Cozzarín’s role also comes into play at the end of each player’s day with a new treatment on a stretcher, and some extra procedure in some area that may present a new strain. But the Argentine’s work does not end there.

In addition to his company, his advice is key. He is constantly reminding them to take care of their bodies through rest and saving energy, gluten-free food, long fasts, hot and cold baths, and less cell phone use to avoid the blue light from the screen. “They are both open to incorporating new things that can help them, and that satisfies me,” explains Sebastián.

All his knowledge comes from worlds very far from tennis. He has refined his methodology by helping many athletes from other disciplines such as rugby, a sport that he himself practiced until the pandemic in Buenos Aires, where he played for Los Matreros. In addition, he helped boxers Errol Spence Jr and Alberto Palmetta, and squash player Diego Elías.

His introduction to tennis came through football. “I was treating a football kid with a pathology. That kid was the son of Kevin Anderson’s coach. He was interested in how I worked, and he suggested that I join Kevin’s team, which had suffered many injuries, so we started thinking about Australia 2022,” recalls Cozzarín, a graduate of the University of Morón and with a specialization at the University of Buenos Aires.

Once on the circuit and with Anderson determined to retire, Cozzarín accepted the proposal to join Tommy Paul’s team at Wimbledon that year. The honour of being alongside the American brought with it a mission that seemed difficult to fulfil.

“Tommy had a severe elbow injury that had lasted at least five years. Sometimes he didn’t train serve because he felt like his arm was dying and he couldn’t hold a racket. They wanted to operate on him, but my vision as a manual therapy specialist was different. Working together, the improvement was noticeable. And in the preseason thinking about 2023, his pain disappeared by 99%.”

The solution to his elbow problem was found in other parts of his body: working on his neck, shoulders and chest. Then came Paul’s best form on the ATP Tour. Since he was a semi-finalist in Australia 2023, he has achieved a status that he has managed to maintain to this day.

Jessica Pegula has also seen results. She brought Cozzarín in for Madrid 2023, and since then they have coincided in mixed tournaments, such as the current US Open, or in weeks when Paul is not competing. Although the American suffered a rib injury that caused her to miss the last clay-court tour, she came back strong with a title in Canada and a final in Cincinnati.

Working with Cozzarín has brought other benefits for both of them: adopting some of the Argentine culture. While Paul is increasingly fond of mate, barbecues and Diego Maradona, Pegula is fond of empanadas and learning Spanish. “When we are in treatment, she has classes for herself. I speak to her in Spanish, and she knows more and more words,” she explains.

This week he has had even more time to share with both of them. With both in the second round of the US Open and looking to advance further, Cozzarín will continue to be one of the busiest people in the complex as he runs back and forth to treat his pupils.