Günter Bresnik on Dominic Thiem in 2019: "The feel-good factor is getting higher"
Dominic Thiem's head coach, mentor and manager Günter Bresnik says what goes through his head before the start of this year's clay court tour of his protégé, what is in the specifications and who is still to be expected this year.
by Fritz Hutter
last edit: Apr 12, 2019, 09:24 pm
Recorded by Fritz Hutter
Günter Bresnik on ...
... understanding of the game: "That matters a lot more on sand. To win the point, a lot of game intelligence and wit is necessary. For example, to make a stop at the right moment, to have variants such as a high spin, a slice, a straight ball or even a net attack ready. All of this is really required for really successful clay court tennis. ”
... footwork: "It is fundamentally different. Nowadays there is also a slide on the hard court, but actually this is a development that comes from clay court tennis. Good clay court players slip a lot. And today's good clay court players are also good hard court players because the rubbers have slowed down. You will see North American players slide much less on hardcourt - simply because they have never learned the technique. With us, however, the children get used to the slipping without you having to say much about it. For really successful clay court tennis, slipping is a must today. But there is also a certain risk of injury. If you slip into the blow, it is therefore important to fix the ankle and also the knee. In the end it's an art ... "
"The best I've ever seen of him" Günter Bresnik on Thiem's match against Nadal at the US Open
... change of surface: “Dominic Thiem is one of those players who basically don't need any time to switch from hard court to sand. Conversely, rather. The fact that he had practiced there for almost two weeks before his first match in Indian Wells was just as ideal as the fact that he traveled from South America without changing the time and that the players found relaxed tranquility on the course in the middle of the desert. ”
... self-confidence: "I believe that self-confidence develops from a high level of personal performance and not vice versa. Most of the Dominic is fine, however, if he is healthy on the one hand and physically fit on the other hand - they worked really well in Indian Wells. If such successes come along, then the icing on the cake. He played the best tennis of his life for me last fall. With the tournament victory in St. Petersburg and before that with the quarter-finals at the US Open against Rafael Nadal . He didn't win that match, but it was probably the best thing I've ever seen of him. In terms of performance, he felt that he was fully involved with the very best on the big stage.
... Experience: “I think that Dominic Thiem, who is stronger overall than ever, will start the European clay court season again this year. In the meantime, he also comes to big tournaments like home. Everything becomes much more natural, which increases the feel-good factor. Everything that really impressed him at the beginning of his career on the sometimes huge facilities and almost aroused him has given way to a positive matter of course today.
... clay court specialist: "Of course the Dominic did most of his points on sand. Whoever reaches the semi-finals three times in a row in Paris is logically one of the very best clay court players. Only his game is actually predestined for hard court. From the serve, but also from the greatly improved return and a repertoire that basically enables him to play away practically every opponent. He also won a lawn tournament and took out the Federer. He is a player who can play very well on any surface due to his technical possibilities. He does that too, but sometimes I am almost surprised that he doesn't have any better results on hard court. "
"He's playing faster again, doesn't pick around so much, and moves around even better. It's insane!" Bresnik on Rafael Nadal
... Rafael Nadal: “It is impressive how Rafael Nadal keeps developing. He is one of the very best players of all time and is still improving every year! The volley, the slice, the serve ... Now he plays faster again, no longer plucks around and moves even better. It's insane - and of course number 1 on sand!
... Other competitors: The Djokovic? Guaranteed to be at the forefront again. A wawrinka? One hundred percent. The next topic is Roger Federer. He is often portrayed as a lawn specialist, but if he also gets back on sand, he can be reckoned with. His record of victories and defeats is also one of the best on sand. In many tournaments, it could only be stopped in the semifinals and by Nadal at the earliest. Of all the young players, I'm really looking forward to a Karen Khachanov. In addition to Stefanos Tsitsipas and the Canadians Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime - one of those floaters who are still unsettled, but you don't want to play in the first two rounds. Sascha Zverev is, of course, an ongoing topic, just like everyone else from the top 10. “