Interview with Marc-Andrea Huesler - "Switzerland is so small"
The ATP Challenger Tour is visiting Switzerland for the third time this season. After the tournaments in Biel and Lugano, the first outdoor event of the highest category will take place this week with the Finaport Zug Open. We spoke to tournament favorite Marc-Andrea Huesler .
by Florian Heer
last edit: Jul 28, 2022, 01:02 pm
By Florian Heer from Zug
Home game for 26-year-old Marc-Andrea Huesler from Zurich. Number 96 in the ATP world rankings is number 1 in the clay court tournament, which is endowed with 134,920 euros. After his two-set victory in the second round over Santiago Rodriguez Taverna from Argentina on Wednesday afternoon, we met Huesler for an interview. We spoke to him about the new tournament and his adventures in Wimbledon and Mexico, where he celebrated two of his five ATP Challenger tournament wins in Aguascalientes and Mexico City in April this year.
Mr. Huesler, the Zug Open is a new Challenger tournament in Switzerland. What are your impressions?
Marc-Andrea Huesler: Very cool. It takes place in a normal tennis club and they managed to set up a big challenger event. Without tradition it is difficult to acquire sponsors. However, a lot of people come. The atmosphere is great and the special places (Conipur Sand) are also very good to play on.
One can speak of a positive development regarding the tournament landscape in Switzerland. Is that something the Swiss players could benefit from?
Yes absolutely. When I started playing on the pro circuit, there were only futures but no challengers in Switzerland. Now, with a generation of young, talented players, there were suddenly several tournaments, such as in Biel, Lugano and now Zug. It is very nice to contest these events in front of family and friends and of course to enjoy the home advantage. We currently have a lot of good players and we push each other. You see what is possible and that motivates you.
How is your relationship with each other?
Switzerland is so small. You know each other very well. I've already experienced a lot with Dominic (Stricker) in the Davis Cup. We get along really well off the pitch too. He is one of the best colleagues on the tour. The same goes for Alex (Ritschard). In the past, many of the players did their own thing. Today we are on a similar level and try to benefit from each other. Of course it's a shame that players like Roger Federer or Stan Wawrinka are no longer in the Davis Cup, but we're trying to establish ourselves with a new team.
Do you come into contact with Swiss legends like Federer and Wawrinka?
Rarely, but every now and then you get together at the Grand Slams or in Switzerland to train. Most of the time, however, they have other tournament plans and are therefore more among themselves.
Keyword Grand Slam. You played your first main draw at a major at Wimbledon. How was the experience?
In retrospect, a great one. It was all very special and exciting. I won my last match in qualifying in five sets. It would have been nice if I could have done that in the first round of the main draw (Huesler lost to Hugo Grenier in five sets). However, there is now an incentive to do better next year. In addition, it is valuable experience to gain. You should benefit from it so that the way to the top also leads in the long term.
As a top seed at a Challenger event in front of your home crowd, do you also feel a certain amount of pressure?
A little, of course, but as a tennis player you're used to it. “Pressure is a privilege”. You're a favorite because you've achieved things you've worked hard for. However, the density of a Challenger is enormous. Anyone can beat anyone. The matches are tight. The shape of the day is often decisive. That's why it's important to bring your best tennis to the court every day.
You played a whole series of tournaments in Mexico last spring. Not only because you were able to win two titles, did you seem to have liked this swing very much?
The conditions there suited me very well. The high altitude and fast sand. I had some initial difficulties at first. In the end, however, I played very well and was able to win two titles and reach another semi-final. The tournaments in Mexico are always great. The events take place in the more affluent clubs in the country. A lot of people come and the players are really celebrated. It's a bit of a different mentality. If you also like Mexican food, even better. Otherwise it will be difficult (laughs).
What are your goals for the rest of the season?
The goal at the beginning of the year was to be in the top 120 in the world. I have already been able to achieve this. The next step is to establish yourself in the top 100 in order to be able to compete in the main fields of the Grand Slam tournaments. And then you have to keep looking. After all, you always want to get better.
Good luck and many thanks.