Hanfmann in an interview: "This is not a sure-fire success for Thiem and Wawrinka either"
ForYannick Hanfmann , the ATP Challenger tournament in Marbella is about important points and a lot of self-confidence for the coming weeks. In an exclusive interview with tennisnet.com, the 30-year-old talks about the comebacks of Dominic Thiem and Stan Wawrinka , his season so far and Alexander Zverev 's dropout.
by Nikolaus Fink from Marbella
last edit: Mar 27, 2022, 07:12 am
Mr. Hanfmann, you will be playing in Marbella for the first time in your career. Why did you decide to pitch here?
This is the first chance to play on clay in Europe. I didn't play a hard court tournament after Australia and meanwhile I've been on clay in South America. I briefly considered flying to Indian Wells and Miami, but then decided against it. That's why I want to play a lot on clay in Europe. Now comes the first week. It is known from Marbella that the weather is usually good and the conditions for training are good. This week it's a bit more difficult because the weather isn't that good and it's also a combined event with the women. Therefore, many training places are always occupied. I'm still looking forward to the week because the conditions here are really great.
How did you feel in the first training sessions? How well do you have the ball on the racquet?
Basically I feel good. But these are just the impressions from the training. I haven't played a match in a few weeks, but I think if I perform well I can definitely win a few rounds. The field is very strong, but after a few weeks of training I'm just happy that it's getting going again. It's good that there's another tournament coming up.
With Dominic Thiem and Stan Wawrinka, two former Grand Slam winners are also at the start in Marbella. What does that say about this tournament?
That shows perhaps the ambitions of the tournament. An ATP 250 event was held here last year. I also think that the tournament will bring everything with it. With this field, it could also be an ATP event. The fact that the two decided to compete shows that the week is a good time to play matches. I hope they are fit and able to play. Because they are two great players.
I hope to win at least one set in the next match against him.
Yannick Hanfmann on a possible reunion with Rafael Nadal.
At the same time, an ATP Masters 1000 tournament is taking place in Miami. From your point of view, how do you convey to the common sports fan that strong tennis is also shown in Marbella?
I don't think it's a bad thing that they're playing in Miami too. Of course it takes a little bit of focus away from this tournament, but at least you can watch all of the challengers. If you want, you can watch strong tennis on the Challenger live stream every day. At Miami, access is more difficult. Basically, we have known in tennis for several years that there are many good players. I don't know when exactly this started. But I have the feeling that we are all getting closer and closer together. Of course, the top is still in a league of its own - especially when it comes to the best of five in the Grand Slams. Maybe we'll see Thiem and Wawrinka here in the coming week, who have problems against a player between world ranking position 100 and 200. They can also play good tennis. Also, they haven't played for a while. In tennis, a lot depends on how you are doing on the day. You could also see that in the coming week. There are top players, but also some who are in their late 100s or early 200s. You still have to perform well. This is not a sure-fire success for Thiem and Wawrinka either.
They lost to eventual winner Rafael Nadal in three sets at the Australian Open in the second round. How do you look back on this match about two months later?
I know what it's like to play against Rafa when he wins a Grand Slam tournament (laughs). I played against him in Paris (2019, note). It felt pretty shit then because I didn't see much land. Of course you then tell yourself that it was great to play on Center Court and so on. At the end of the day, you still want to show a good performance. I didn't put that on the pitch in Paris. At the beginning of the year I played much better against Rafa. It was also a closer match. It was still a smooth three movements, but I felt like it wasn't that smooth. I think he had that feeling too. That's why I'm definitely happier with this match than with the one in Paris. I've noticed that I've gotten even better over the past few years. Of course that's the way it should be. I improved and took a lot of positives from this match. That gave me a lot of self-confidence that I can also compete at this level. I hope to win at least one set in the next match against him. Maybe it would be a bit better on grass (laughs).
In the first round of the Australian Open, in Thanasi Kokkinakis you beat a player who has performed very well so far this season. Was that a game where you saw you had the potential to be in the top 30 or top 50?
Yes, in any case. I do believe that I have the level for the top 30. The question will be whether I can do it physically. I've always struggled with injuries and I need consistency in my year to bring in the results. You don't reach the top 30 with one or two tournaments. You have to play some good ones. I usually had two or three really good tournaments in the past few years. The tournament calendar must also fit. You shouldn't play too much, but of course not too little either. If I'm playing at the level I've been at over the past few months, I'm very confident that I won't be outside the top 100 anytime soon, but definitely in the top 100 and probably even a bit higher stand. Maybe in the top 60 or something. I haven't been there yet (Hanfmann's career high is #92, ed.). That's why I can't say that it will be a sure-fire success. But I think I have that in me.
What goals have you set yourself for this season?
I understand that it's always nice to hear that in interviews. If I'm going to break it down to a ranking goal - which I'm not too keen on doing - I'd say I'm aiming for the top 60 this year. I think I have that in there too. But I set my goals more in relation to tournaments. I would like to play in the Davis Cup. I was there as a substitute in Rio and I would definitely like to be there if we play in Germany in the main round. You must have a corresponding ranking position for this. I also want to perform well in the Grand Slams. I want to play well in Paris this year. I was also in the finals of two ATP 250 tournaments (Kitzbühel 2020, Gstaad 2017, note). I can already imagine a title.
That was a huge mistake on his part.
Yannick Hanfmann on Alexander Zverev's dropout.
You were in contact with Alexander Zverev at the Davis Cup immediately after his dropout in Acapulco. In Miami, more missteps by Jenson Brooksby and Jordan Thompson have sparked a bigger debate. How do you rate this topic?
It's a difficult subject, no question. I also have to be a little careful about what I say. First and foremost, I think what Sascha did was absolutely wrong. He was the first to see that too. We also talked about it in Rio. Of course, that was a huge mistake on his part. It always sucks because it just happened. On Brooksby: I think throwing bats is part of the game. But why uncontrolled? I don't understand that at all and I think it's extremely stupid of the guys that this happens to. We're talented enough that that shouldn't happen to us. So, stuff like that... I'm not very knowledgeable about the ruleset, but I'd be all for cracking down if something like this happens. On the pitch, not a $20,000 fine afterwards. That's all well and good, but it's also about the match. If something like Brooksby happens, I do think he could default and lose the match. I'm absolutely there.
Do you think the penalty for Alexander Zverev is justified?
I don't know if you can get him financially. I do not think so. I don't think you'd annoy Sascha with a $20,000 or $25,000 fine (Zverev initially had to pay $40,000 and return the $30,000 prize money. The additional $25,000 fine was on probation, note). I think you should think of something else. Now it didn't happen and I think that's good for him because he felt super bad after the Acapulco scenario. I would now also say that something like this will never happen to him again. He's clever and smart enough for that. I would say he got off to a good start again.