Interview with Günter Bresnik - "Medvedev is technically excellent"
Star coach Günter Bresnik is traditionally going to his training camp in Tenerife these days. Before that, he spoke to tennisnet about the latest developments in tennis.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
Nov 18, 2021, 07:32 pm
tennisnet : Mr. Bresnik. From Turin one hears tender complaints these days that the place is too fast for the preferences of most players. What does that do to you?
Bresnik : I always fondly remember the discussion from 1992, when Ivanisevic played against Becker in the Masters. I think it was the semifinals. There was only served and mostly not even returned. I was asked back then: where will the sport lead when there are no more rallies? These days there are three quarters of the year complaints that people are only playing from the baseline, that there are no more service volley players, that everything is too slow. The development always goes by itself. A Djokovic , but also an average top 100 player in 2021, returns surcharges of more than 200 km / h fairly stable. That didn’t exist before. Since these 200 were the top speed. For someone like Zverev , the average speed of the first serve is certainly 210 km / h. I looked at Shapovalov in Stockholm: 207, 209, 211. People will adapt. And if you don't succeed, you are not suitable for professional tennis. For the audience, the games are currently quite good.
tennisnet : Even if there is sometimes a lack of variability?
Bresnik : The net game has now become almost impossible because the surfaces are too slow. If I never get to perfection, that will be neglected in training, too. But if you look at someone like Carlos Alcaraz: There was a clever coach there who probably taught him that when he was 13 or 14 years old. Alcaraz developed a high self-image very early on. The one who hurts me the most is Shapovalov: He's an excellent volley player, but unfortunately he never gets into good volley positions. But I believe that the net game will follow suit again in the future.
Zverev and Thiem as logical successors to Djokovic
tennisnet : Daniil Medvedev doesn't seem to feel comfortable online either, but is already back in the semifinals. Despite or because of his very own technology?
Bresnik : I don't like Medvedev's punches - and also the volley - optically. But technically they are brilliant for me. For me, technology means that I can control the ball. And Medvedev can do that like no other. Tennis aesthetes will not be knocked off their feet. But technically, Medvedev is excellent.
tennisnet : Would you have trusted Medvedev with this development?
Bresnik : I honestly never saw Medvedev so well that he was a candidate for number one. And for Grand Slam victories. Because I was also confused by the look. When you see how he continues to improve physically, that he is clever, that he is mature ... and above all: that he follows his strong will with deeds, that's impressive. When Medvedev was young, some coaches said they would like a player like that.
tennisnet : Will Medvedev be the logical successor to Novak Djokovic?
Bresnik : For me it was always Zverev or Thiem who will make the Grand Slam tournaments and number one among themselves. Now Dominic is out for a short time due to an injury, Zverev for other reasons. But he is now always a candidate for a semifinal in a Grand Slam. In terms of the game, Zverev is more dangerous to me than Medvedev. But it has a greater consistency.
tennisnet: Novak Djokovic is still above everyone else.
Bresnik : I like to say: Djokovic will lose interest in the sport when the other two are no longer there. He's not playing against Tsitsipas, Zverev, Shapovalov, but against the other two. This is my remote diagnosis. It is extremely important for Djokovic to overtake Federer and Nadal in the Grand Slam titles. When he has managed that, the matches against the next generation will no longer appeal to him.
With Monfils and Svitolina to Tenerife
tennisnet : You will soon be flying to Tenerife again to prepare with your players. What makes this time so important?
Bresnik : Unfortunately, the preparation for one year is only between four and six weeks long. The younger you are, the longer this phase should be. For me the most important time of the year. There is no travel stress, no daily tournament routine, no self-imposed pressure to win points - this is the time when you work best. You get to know people from a completely different perspective, they open up more. At a tournament everyone only deals with themselves. The best players anyway, because at tournaments they are not only absorbed by sport, but also by other things.
tennisnet : Who do you have on board this time?
Bresnik : Gael Monfils , who will come with his wife Elina Svitolina. And I'll take a couple of teenagers with me. On the part of the coaches, Richard Ruckelshausen will also be there, who has already been to the US Open with Gael and me. And who will also fly to Australia again. Without me.