Interview with Mannarino: "Federer has taken tennis to another level"
In a detailed interview with tennisnet.com , Adrian Mannarino talks about thoughts of ending his career, Roger Federer 's resignation and two unusual habits.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Oct 13, 2022, 07:04 pm
Mr. Mannarino, you are now 34 years old and we are already in the late stages of the season. How are you physically?
I've been plagued by a knee injury for a few months. It's gotten a little worse in the past few weeks. I'm in Paris right now trying to sort things out to get back on tour as soon as possible.
Originally you wanted to start in Naples next week. Does this plan still stand?
I'm not sure. I'm doing my best and will probably make a decision on Friday. In the last two weeks (Basel and Paris-Bercy, note) I will definitely play.
You could be the new French number one as early as next week if Arthur Rinderknech doesn't win in Gijon. What does that mean to you?
To be honest, that doesn't mean much to me. I was already higher in the ranking and not number one in France at the time. If I could choose between these two options, I would go for the higher ranking.
Your career high is world number 22. Do you think you can top that position again?
That depends on my body. My tennis level is as high as before, maybe even higher. But my body doesn't work as well as it used to. I will continue to work hard in the gym to get fit again. I'll try my best and I think I can improve this ranking one more time. We will see.
When you get hurt, it's hard to start all over again and fight your way back.
Adrian Mannarino
You address your injury issues. Are you already thinking about retiring?
To be honest, I did this at the beginning of the year. My motivation was so low and it was difficult for me to get back on tour and travel all the time. I didn't find any motivation on the court. Then luckily I had a good run at the Australian Open. That motivated me again to keep going. After that, many great events such as the Davis Cup, Indian Wells or Miami were on the program. I felt again that I was playing good tennis. So I kept trying and now I feel more motivated than before. I just hope it continues like this. When you get hurt, it's hard to start all over again and fight your way back. Every day is different. I just hope that I'll get fit again and stay that way.
How do you mentally deal with the big challenges on the tour?
I try to only play the tournaments I like. That's better for me. I used to travel to more tournaments where the general conditions were maybe not always the best. Now I just want to enjoy my time on the court.
You already touched on your run at the Australian Open. They lost to Rafael Nadal in the round of 16 but before that they beat Hubert Hurkacz and Aslan Karatsev. Tell us about your impressions of the days in Melbourne
I played really well there. The match against Karatsev was a true night-late battle in a best-of-five format. After that I was able to finish the game against Rafa, but I got injured after the first set. So basically the match only lasted one set - after that it was almost over. I have very fond memories of the tournament, but wish I could end it with a bigger fight.
You contested the Davis Cup in Hamburg in September. How do you rate the format, which has changed once again this year?
It is always an honor for me to represent my country. I had a good time with my friends and the whole support staff. We always experience beautiful things. I was very happy to play this year even though I got injured after the first match and couldn't help my friends the way I wanted. And of course we all know that the format isn't the best. Still, I'm always happy to play with my friends.
You were also unlucky at Wimbledon in 2021 when you played Roger Federer in the first round and had to retire at the start of the fifth set due to a knee injury. We now know that this was Federer's last major tournament. How do you look back on this performance with today's knowledge?
That was a good match from me. I felt comfortable on the court, but I also felt that Roger was definitely not at his best level. He was physically exhausted and wasn't moving as well as before. It would have been nice if that had been his last match (laughs). It was terrible that I got badly injured and it affected my whole summer. I also lost the match itself. All of this was on my birthday. That's not a good memory.
How would you summarize Federer's career and his impact on tennis?
He was a great role model for all tennis players. He was a huge inspiration to all of us and we were very fortunate to have him. He took tennis to another level. It was very difficult to keep up with him. He was very nice both on and off the pitch and it would be nice to have more role models like him. But it will remain unique. It was nice to be on the pitch with him a few times. I have good memories, although I've lost every time (7-0 head to head, note). It was always something special to play against him.
This year you won your second career title in Winston-Salem. In the first round, however, you had to fend off four match points against Christopher O'Connell. What does that say about the density in tennis?
It's really tight at the top. You can win and lose against any opponent. Self-confidence is crucial. Sometimes just one match can make a big difference. That was the case with me. I wasn't particularly motivated for Winston-Salem, but I enjoyed it more and more from match to match. In the end I was very motivated to win the title. It was nice to win the second trophy of my career. It wasn't the best preparation for the US Open because I played a lot of games, but nobody can take this title away from me.
If I string an extra pound or two, the ball doesn't even go over the net.
Adrian Mannarino
A special feature of yours is that you string your rackets extremely softly. What benefits are you hoping to gain from this?
I don't see that as an advantage. I just play with the stringing that suits my game. I don't play that powerful. If I string an extra pound or two, the ball doesn't even go over the net. I'm just trying to find the right balance between power and precision. I currently string with ten or eleven kilograms. Of course it's a bit special and different, but I don't think about it and I won't change anything. I'm just comfortable with it. I'm very glad that I never had shoulder problems - the soft covering helps there too.
How difficult was it for you to assert yourself when you were younger with your style of play and the soft fabric?
I never thought about it. I didn't pay attention to what other people said about my stringing. As I said: I just felt comfortable with it and that is still the case. Sometimes I still make small changes at tournaments. I'm just trying to prepare as best I can.
Another special feature is that you don't want to know who you're playing against until just before the match starts. How come?
I've just always tried to focus on what I'm supposed to be doing. I don't want to overthink things. This also includes not worrying too much about the next match. You only lose energy when you think about how your opponent might plan their game. I want to keep things simple. I always sleep well the night before a match because I don't even know who I'm playing against. My coach usually tells me who I'm playing against an hour before the match starts. From that point on, we develop a plan. Before that, it wouldn't make sense for me to waste energy with it.
Wouldn't it make sense to prepare for each opponent's different strengths and weaknesses?
I've been on tour for 15 years. So I know how to play against whom. I trust my instincts, but of course it makes me play very intuitively.