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Antonitsch: "Everything is made for a big tennis party"
KITZBÜHEL. The Kitzbühel tournament director on Dominic Thiem's blessing and why a wildcard prize brings in more losers than winners.
Gemma Gams: Kitzbühel tournament leader and his biggest workaholic Image: GEPA
Alex Antonitsch sounds relaxed. And it's unusual for the former two-time world champion right now. "Everything is made for a big tennis festival," explains the director of the ATP tennis tournament in Kitzbühel. Today, the clbadic clay court of Tyrol starts with the qualification and the draw.
OÖN: Is it important for Kitzbühel to open Dominic Thiem again this year?
Alex Antonitsch: A successful local hero is precious, it was already too much Thomas Muster's times to see. Thiem is a blessing for this tournament, but even more for the entire local tennis. We notice this in the interest of the many tennis schools and clubs that apply to us. More children come back to tennis. And we had the best ticket presale in the ages. Everything is ready for a big tennis party on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
How do you trust Thiem?
A lot, because he loves sand – no matter where – so that it is one of the best in the world. And he was in 2014, when he was in the final, always close. It depends on how he reacts to the unusual altitude and pressure of the home tournament. That he takes it very seriously, he proved it by saying that he does not want to have won here.
When will your workhorse be on the market for the first time?
We filed on Tuesday as a request to ATP, but it depends on several factors. Also, how he plays in Hamburg, he plays really doubles with Dennis Novak and others. So, he could as well as Wednesday.
Gerald Melzer complained that his brother Jürgen had been neglected in the badignment of wildcard. Do you share this opinion?
A generic reward brings more and more losers than winners. In addition, they are not alone in the hands because the dealer Octagon of course has the right to say or a wildcard. What she had in qualifying Yuri Rodionov, I'm sticking to that. He is young, ambitious and the youngest Challenger winner since the model.
Major tournaments continue to win veterans. How long does the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era last?
The change of guard has already begun in part. In the final of the majors, it is not always the big ones who win the match. Only such a generation change does not occur abruptly, but regularly. And people like Federer are there only once. He does not play much, but when he starts, he usually wins.
Thiem lost in Hamburg
The general rehearsal of the Generali Open in Kitzbühel failed Dominic Thiem. The Austrian number one in tennis was surprisingly beaten by Nicolay Jarry without glitches in the quarterfinals of Hamburg yesterday with 6: 7 (5) and 6: 7 (7). It was better in doubles for the Oliver Marach Steirer with his Croatian partner Mate Pavic. After the 2: 6, 6: 4, 10: 7 against Daniell / Koolhof, the duo is in the final and also prematurely dissolved the ticket for the World Tour final.
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