Interview with Filip Misolic: "I think my game is pretty toxic even on hard court"
In an exclusive interview with tennisnet.com in the run-up to the US Open qualification, Filip Misolic talks about his goals for the last third of the season, the feelings after reaching the final in Kitzbühel and the difficult transition from sand to hard court.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Aug 22, 2022, 06:54 pm
Mr. Misolic, you've been in the USA since last Monday: how are you? Have you already acclimatized well?
Yes, definitely. I've been training every day since Tuesday, and even on the main facility (note the venue of the US Open) since Friday. And at the moment it's going pretty well: I'm trying to get a good feeling on hard court and to change a few small things that are needed for the transition from clay to hard court.
The qualification for the US Open starts on Tuesday, the second Grand Slam qualification of your career so far - how are your feelings when you look at the start of the qualification?
I feel very good. I'm very positive - I think that's the most important thing. I mean, playing here on a facility like this is a dream. Everything is huge - with Center Court of course - it's a really nice feeling.
What goals have you set for your performances at Flushing Meadows?
I haven't set myself any specific goals. I try to focus on every match and do my best. If I had one goal, it would be to qualify. That would be nice.
Hard court wasn't always the easiest surface for you. How did you approach the change in the team after the tournament in Kitzbühel?
I took a week off after the tournament in Kitzbühle and then I went straight to the hard court to prepare as well as possible. I haven't trained and played that much on hard court in the past, but I think I'm playing well at the moment and my game is pretty toxic on hard court too. Yeah, I think they can go together pretty well.
So the form and confidence are the same on hard?
Yes, exactly.
On hard court, offensive footwork is needed first and foremost, the move forward, on clay court it is easier to arrange the rallies a little further behind the baseline. To what extent has this change, as far as the court position is concerned, been an issue in the past few weeks?
That was very important, we try to implement that in every training session: that I'm closer to the line, that I play a bit straighter, I move to the net and I work a lot on the serve. Those are the little things I've tried to improve over these two weeks. And I think it looks pretty good.
A lot has happened since Kitzbühel: You caused a sensation in Austria with your appearances at the home tournament. Have you had a chance to let success sink in, to digest success?
Yes, yes. After the final I dropped out straight away and didn't want to think about Kitzbühel anymore. Because the week was physically and mentally extremely exhausting. I immediately said to myself that I had to take a week to recover. When I was back on the tennis court, I already knew what I had achieved there.
After Kitzbühel, you were the best Austrian in the ATP ranking, so the media interest in you was and is of course correspondingly high: The hype in this form was the first time in your career, how did you deal with it?
Actually very good: I gave a lot of interviews, but I enjoyed it. It is no problem for me. I'm actually happy that I can give a lot of interviews and that I was number one in Austria - even if it was only for a week or two. I think it's every tennis player's dream to be number one in their country.
What did this week do for you from a sporting point of view?
In any case, the week opened up more opportunities - with the final in Kitzbühel. Our goals for this year are therefore that I - if possible - slip into the top 100 so that I can play in the main draw at the Australian Open. And that I might be able to play in the NextGen ATP Finals at the end of the year.
You are only missing a few positions for the NextGen finals: So is it a specific goal of the season for you to be there in Milan?
I'm - I think - currently number eleven, but the first two in the race are Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who probably won't play in the NextGen ATP Finals (note Carlos Alcaraz is currently number three in the race-to -Turin, in the race for the men's ATP finals, Jannik Sinner number 15). That means I'm almost there.
Before Kitzbühel you were completely without an official sponsor: has that already changed?
No, not yet. I'm getting a lot of inquiries now, but we're working together as a team to think about what could go well here. We haven't decided anything yet.
Finally, let's take a quick look into the future: Is the Challenger event in Tulln part of your tournament planning?
Definitely: First the Challenger tournament in Tulln and then the Davis Cup.
It would be an honor to play for Austria in the Davis Cup.
Filip Misolic on a possible start in the international match with Pakistan.
Does that mean you're a fixture at the Davis Cup?
I don't know exactly yet, but I hope that Jürgen (note Melzer, captain of the Austrian Davis Cup team) will call me. But it would definitely be an honor to play for Austria in the Davis Cup.
You also recently indicated to ORF Steiermark that participating in the ATP event in Vienna would also be a big highlight for you. Have there already been discussions with Herwig Straka?
It would definitely be a highlight. There are no talks yet, but I would definitely be very happy if I could play at the 500 (note ATP 500 event) in Vienna. It would of course be a dream to be able to take part in the second major tournament in Austria.
Finally, the question: you are currently missing two cancellations to qualify for the US Open. Would it make any difference to you starting with the seeding number next to your name?
No, I don't really think about that. It doesn't really matter to me because I have to play well against every player in qualifying to win. So it makes no difference whether I'm seeded or not.
Thanks for the interview and all the best for the US Open qualifiers!
You're welcome.