Dominik Koepfer - "My goal is the top 50"
With his entry into the fourth round of the US Open, Dominik Koepfer made everyone sit up and take notice in 2019. The 25-year-old German is currently preparing for the coming season in Florida. And chats in an interview with tennisnet about his college days, a final against Dennis Novak and training in Florida.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Dec 18, 2019, 07:55 am
tennisnet : Mr. Koepfer. After entering the round of 16 of the US Open, you said in New York that this tournament would change your life. How did it change?
Dominik Koepfer : I've had a lot of new experiences, already at the US Open. I hadn't played on such a big stage yet, for me it was only the second Grand Slam tournament ever in the main field. I qualified for a major peloton for the first time and reached the top 100 by reaching the fourth round. As a result, I can now play bigger tournaments, and in some events I go straight to the main fields, especially the Grand Slams. It was a big dream that came true.
tennisnet : Which match at the US Open did you think was the best?
Koepfer : Combat was the best against Jaume Munar, I had to struggle with my nerves and got cramps towards the end. I was two sets and break in front, after that I got nervous. In terms of tennis, the match against Nikoloz Basilashvili was the best from start to finish. I played very solidly there and hardly gave him any free points.
Crazy spectators in the match against Medvedev
tennisnet : In terms of nervous strain, the final in Ilkley's Challenger against Dennis Novak could have been one step above the appearances at the US Open. After all, it was about a starting place in the main field of Wimbledon.
Koepfer : The final in Ilkley was definitely a lot worse than the matches I played at the US Open. It was about my first peloton start at a Grand Slam, for Dennis it was about moving into the top 100. You noticed that in the end: the level of tennis wasn't that high in the tie-break, I made a lot of mistakes , then somehow fended off a match ball with a slice to the outside - and then used the first match ball immediately. The tension was very high. But this experience has also helped me for the rest of the year, including at the US Open. For example against Reilly Opelka, where I served the match and where I was maybe not so nervous.
tennisnet : The atmosphere in Wimbledon and at the US Open could hardly be more different. Which one appeals to you more?
Koepfer : Of course Wimbledon is very special because it is very traditional. But I personally like the US Open a little bit better, because I played college in the USA for four years. There was always something going on. And it was great fun playing in front of such a large audience and being cheered on. To run out of the match against Daniil Medvedev , where he is booed. I've got used to the fact that the audience is a little crazy all around.
tennisnet : Can it be compared to your time in college?
Koepfer : Depending on who you're playing against. It could happen that you put your towel on the back of the fence. And then the towel is spat on. It's not great, but you get used to it. By the way, you get a little bit of a "backhand", but you also learn to deal with it. And that also helps me now. There are just a lot of college kids watching. And there it can escalate.
tennisnet : As a tennis player at college, do you look a little jealous of the bigger sports like basketball or football?
Koepfer : Of course, when you play in front of 100,000 people in the football stadium, that's extremely extreme. The players are celebrated. But it is important for the tennis teams that there is football and basketball. Because all other sports are financed by these two. And then this professional environment that you get as a college tennis player would not be possible. At the beginning it was exciting to go to the football games because in Germany you are not used to doing so much for university sports. There is no envy.
tennisnet : Please make a comparison between your support at college and your current situation.
Koepfer : Everything is available at college, you hardly have to organize anything yourself. You always have two trainers there, a main trainer, an assistant, physio, strength trainer, actually 24 hours at a time. Even with doctors you never have to worry about anything, everything is paid for. And now the first two years on the tour were not easy. I played futures and challengers, so the costs are high. You can't travel with a coach almost every week.
Zverev and Hurkacz also train in Florida
tennisnet : After the US Open it didn't go quite as well. Why?
Koepfer : That was partly mental, but partly also due to physical reasons. I was a little sick after the US Open. And mentally it is not so easy to come back from such a great success. So I decided to end my season after Shanghai. To train and travel to the Davis Cup.
tennisnet : You were not used in the Davis Cup, Philipp Kohlschreiber contested the individual as number two. A disappointment for you?
Koepfer : Sure, I would have loved to play, but I already thought that Michael Kohlmann would let Philipp play first. Because Kohli already played 30 games for Germany, no idea. And then he played well and won two games, which made it difficult for me to get into the line-up. But it was by no means a disappointment for me because I had expected it.
tennisnet : How did you like the mood?
Koepfer : I didn't have a personal comparison now because I had never been to the Davis Cup before, but the atmosphere against Argentina was very good. But of course you notice that hardly any spectators from other countries come to tennis in Spain. The organization of the tournament was great, everything was perfect for the players. Only the atmosphere for the other teams except Spain was not that great.
tennisnet : Let's look at the present. Where are you training and with whom?
Koepfer : I'm currently in Tampa, just like the past three years. I train partly in Saddlebrook, then at IMG. There are some people here: Sascha Zverev , Hubert Hurkacz, Peter Polansky. Sometimes I also use the USTA facility in Orlando to play matches. I train with my coaches Rhyne Williams and Billy Heiser.
tennisnet : How do you imagine that - Sascha calls you in the morning and says: let's train for an hour?
Koepfer : When Sascha starts playing points, you may be asked. But I train a lot with Hubert Hurkacz, who has his coach here in Tampa. Something always arises.
tennisnet: What specific goals have you set for 2020?
Koepfer : Of course, the goals have been raised. My goal is to be in the top 50. And to be part of all Grand Slams. I don't have a lot of points to defend at the beginning of the year, so in the first few months I hope that things will go up, that I will be able to get straight into the ATP tournaments.