Ex-Mayer coach Tobias Summerer - Missing fans problematic for Federer
Tobias Summerer was on the ATP tour with Florian Mayer as a coach for years, later with Philipp Kohlschreiber. Summerer is currently training Maximilian Marterer and Cedric-Marcel Stebe at the TennisBase in Oberhaching. A conversation about the medium-term future in tennis.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: May 13, 2020, 07:35 pm
tennisnet : Mr. Summerer. For many professionals, national tournament series will soon be taking place without spectators. A scenario that will probably continue to apply even after the ATP tour has resumed. Will problems arise from this?
Summerer : I don't think it will be that difficult for most players because we play in front of a few spectators in the ATP Challenger tournaments, especially in the first rounds. But for the very, very top boys, it is unimaginable to play a Grand Slam tournament without spectators. I can't imagine that Roger Federer would now be easy against John Millman in an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium.
tennisnet : Other veterans yet ?
Summerer : I spoke to Philipp Kohlschreiber about the topic here yesterday. And Philipp also said that there are already a lot of tournaments where you play in front of a few fans. Therefore, it is much easier for many tennis players who may not be in the top 100 to get used to such a situation.
tennisnet : Philipp Kohlschreiber is slowly thinking about his career end. How do you experience him these days?
Summerer : When I see Philipp here training with Maxi Marterer, he makes a very good impression. I have the feeling that this situation does not bother him as much because he is at peace with himself. And everything he does is a lot of fun.
tennisnet : Actually, the right situation now prevails in which your former protégé Florian Mayer could join again. It never took a lot of time for comebacks to get going again.
Summerer : I recently spoke to Flo. The Corona break, of course, hit him hard because he couldn't train at all, couldn't play anywhere because he didn't have the status of a professional athlete. He would be itchy now and then, but now the train has left a bit, as he says himself. But in a training set it is always dangerous for everyone here.
tennisnet : In the planned tournament series in Germany and Austria, young players such as Milan Welte compete against players of the extended world class such as Jan-Lennard Struff. Does that make any sense?
Summerer : I think that both can learn from such a match. The boys can see what the top boys are doing well. Can learn where they need to improve. And the top players will certainly go to some matches to train something. Perhaps the trainer gives instructions on how; You play a lot of serve volleyball. And then you try to implement that. Generally I think the whole tournament series is great. For people like Maxi or Cedric-Marcel Stebe it is advantageous in two ways: you need both matches, which you are guaranteed to get here. And they earn a little money again and can cover their expenses.
Over a period of twelve years, a million prize money is not much.
tennisnet : The hottest topic in recent weeks is the planned player fund to support professionals who are ranked far behind in the world rankings. Who do you see responsible for this?
Summerer : Everyone has to help in this matter. The ATP is definitely obliged to do something. Which is also being tackled. But you will never find a solution that satisfies everyone. Then there is someone like Tommy Robredo in this field who has won $ 12 million in career prize money. He certainly doesn't need the $ 5,000. It is also difficult to link the distribution to the career prize money: a 30-year-old may have made a million. Calculated over twelve years, that's not a lot. If a 20-year-old has earned a million, it is likely to be doing well. However, I do not see it primarily as a duty for the players to help, but the umbrella organizations.
tennisnet : The German Bundesliga is out this year. What does that mean for many professionals?
Summerer : The Bundesliga, if not literally essential for survival, is the safest source of income. Here you pay very well, and then you already have the travel expenses and part of the coach. For many players who are not in the top 100, the cancellation of the Bundesliga hurts a lot. Because sometimes it is the case that a player is eliminated in a tournament in the quarterfinals and then plays in the Bundesliga on Sunday. Then he has earnings from two sources that week. The current rule is: eyes closed and through. Especially with this tournament series of the DTB, the players can win some money again.
tennisnet : In conclusion - as a coach on the ATP tour, would you like to be closer to the player, like the captains of the Davis Cup or the ATP Cup?
Summerer : Basically, the player pays the coach. And from my point of view it makes little sense that when it comes to something, the coach cannot intervene. You have to find a solution. I think it's a mess when the coach is sitting on the bench. That fits in the Davis Cup, but not on the tour. From time to time I find contact like the qualifications at the Grand Slams not bad, although for me it is an exaggeration that the player can come straight to the coach. And that does after almost every point. It should be possible to tell the player something once or twice per set. But a solution is difficult: if you open it completely, then only talk is made. And that's not the right thing.