Interview with Rudi Molleker - "Get in the mood for tennis again"
Rudi Molleker was considered Germany's next great tennis hope. In the recent past, however, the development of Berliners has stalled. This week Molleker opens in Madrid.
by Florian Heer
last edit: Apr 13, 2022, 02:32 pm
By Florian Heer from Madrid
It's the year 2019. With the help of a wild card, the then 17-year-old Rudolf Molleker was able to celebrate his first tournament on the ATP Challenger Tour at the NeckarCup in Heilbronn. A dream week for the teenager, who was hyped as one of the greatest talents in German men's tennis in the coming months. But Molleker had lost the thread after his first successes on the tour. Mental problems threw the now 21-year-old from Oranienburg off track and affected his desire to play tennis.
Various changes in the coaching area did not bring the desired result. Michael Kohlmann, Jan de Witt or the staff of the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in France already took the blond boy, who came to Brandenburg with his parents from the Ukraine at the age of three, under their wing.
Recently, there have also been initial experiences with more stubborn injuries. But Molleker is ready to return and look ahead. At a two-week clay court swing in Spain, number 445 in the ATP world rankings is trying to get back on track. Molleker was able to record the first small successes. At the ATP Challenger tournament in Murcia, he successfully fought his way through qualification into the main draw. At the following Open Comunidad de Madrid he was able to convince at least in the first round of qualifying with a win over Kyrian Jacquet from France. We met him afterwards for an interview.
tennisnet : Mr. Molleker, things have calmed down about you personally. Many tennis fans in Germany have wondered what's going on. Can you give us an update on the last months or years?
Rudi Molleker : After a good year in 2019, I struggled with a few injuries. There were also mental problems and I lost my direction a bit. I didn't really know what to do and what I wanted to do. To be honest, I also lost the fun of tennis. I've had a tough few months. I was then a lot at home, which was also good for me. Things didn't go particularly well last year either, but I felt like playing again and I enjoyed traveling. I realized that it's my life, even if it doesn't always go so well. Now I'm here trying to fight my way back up. It's definitely a tough road, but again I enjoy every tournament where I can play.
tennisnet : On the side, one could hear that you were also confronted with insults in the social media area. Did this also play a role?
Molleker : Definitely. In 2019 I qualified for two Grand Slam tournaments in Australia and Paris. There followed the now well-known story where I forgot to register for Wimbledon, which was my own fault. That was a faux pas and very stupid during a good year. Unfortunately it happened. Not being able to play Wimbledon was a real drag on me too. In addition there was all the hustle and bustle from outside, how something like this could have happened. It wasn't easy to deal with. I was 19 years old. There's a lot of shitstorm coming at you. That was a difficult construction site in my life. Sure, that shouldn't happen, but at the end of the day we're all only human.
tennisnet : Do you rate it differently today and would you approach it differently?
Molleker : Yes, definitely. At the time I just didn't know how to deal with it. The worst part for me was not being able to play. It was a ridiculous story and arguably a cool headline, but it hurt me the most. I couldn't take part in the Grand Slam tournament. I didn't quite understand why they had to pull me down even further. But it's been three years now.
tennisnet : In the meantime you have worked with some coaches. What is the current standing?
Molleker : I've tried a few things. I'm back home in Berlin now and I'm surrounded by my very first team with Papa and Benjamin Thiele. This is where I feel most comfortable. Berlin is my hometown. Friends and family are there. For us tennis players in particular, life on the tour with all the travel can be really hard. If you're also so prepared in terms of training that you don't really feel comfortable, then it becomes difficult.
tennisnet : Sounds like a kind of "port" to which you can always return...
Molleker : Yes, exactly. You train, but you know that you're still a normal person. You can go out to eat in the evening and see your friends. Or play a round of Playstation at home. This makes you feel like there is more to life than tennis.
tennisnet : Are you also accompanied on the tour?
Molleker : Here I am with the Ukrainian Oleksii Krutykh. Unfortunately, since there is currently war in Ukraine, we found a cool solution for him in Berlin. Big thanks to the LTTC Rot-Weiß Berlin, who provided him with an apartment in the city where he can live with his dad. So I also have a great training partner on site. We are currently playing the same tournaments and can travel together. That is fun.
tennisnet : The incidents in Ukraine will certainly concern you too. Do you still have relatives in your country of birth?
Molleker : My grandma has now come to Germany with my little cousin. My aunt and her husband stayed there. They come from Dnipropetrovsk, where, thank God, things have remained relatively quiet. Luckily everyone is fine, but of course it's a difficult subject.
tennisnet : The 2022 season is still relatively young for you. You only played in an ITF World Tennis Tour tournament in Antalya, then traveled to the Challenger in Murcia and are now here in Madrid. What happened before?
Molleker : In November last year I broke the fifth metacarpal of my batting hand. I had to undergo two surgeries and had a wire in my hand that was removed on December 22nd. After that, however, it took some time before I could play again. This was my first operation and therefore also new territory, how to deal with it. The futures in Antalya were tough and associated with teething problems. I was able to win at least one or two matches. But with every match I feel better and I can feel that things are going in the right direction.
tennisnet : At the Murcia Open 2019 you played and won a fantastic match against the local hero Carlos Alcaraz in front of a full house. Does it give you an extra dose of motivation when you come back to a place like this?
Molleker : It's always nice when you can associate good memories with a tournament. I feel the same way about Rothenbaum in Hamburg, to which I always like to return. It felt good to win two matches in Murcia last week and to qualify. That gave me confidence.
Thank you for the interview and all the best for the future.