Mats Wilander in a tennisnet interview - "Australia is perfect for Sascha Zverev"
Eurosport expert and tennis legend Mats Wilander in a tennisnet interview about his memories of a legendary final, Alexander Zverev's chances in Australia and the prospects for Dominic Thiem's comeback.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jan 09, 2022, 12:02 pm
The interview schedule with Eurosport expert Mats Wilander is tightly timed. However, ten minutes one-on-one via zoom is a wonderful opportunity to go through current topics in the tennis world with the Swedish tennis legend, who has won seven Grand Slam tournaments in his career.
tennisnet : Mr. Wilander. The Swedish Davis Cup team did well in the Davis Cup final round in Madrid. Will there be hope for your homeland again soon?
Mats Wilander : There are high hopes, no doubt. The Ymer brothers have been pulling the wagon for a couple of years now. While I'm not saying that either of them will win a major, they've got to a higher level, especially Mikael. We put in another good performance in the Davis Cup. The upcoming juniors get a chance to train with the Ymers. The level of performance in a country has to be high enough to be able to win Davis Cup matches, a few rounds at Grand Slam matches, etc. The dream must be alive. Because the dream was dead in Sweden for the last few years. Yes, I hope that a great athlete will emerge who understands the sport of tennis. And who wants to be better than Mikael Ymer. If he can do that, he might end up in the top 20.
tennisnet : You won one of the best matches of the 1980s against Pat Cash in the final of the Australian Open in 1987. What memories do you have of that game?
Wilander : It was a very open match with a lot of network attacks. I remember coming online more often than in any other final I've played. We both started this match with great self-confidence because Ivan Lendl was no longer there. Ivan was clearly the best player in the world back then. And Cashi threw Lendl out. So I thought: Wow! I have the chance to win another Grand Slam tournament after a few years. Pat Cash was a wonderful opponent because he could do a variety of things: play from the baseline, serve and volley - you played him at a high level automatically. But that had to do with his strength. It was a lot of fun tactically: not knowing what to do next. And vice versa.
tennisnet : The external circumstances were also special.
Wilander : A full house on Australia's actually 200th birthday. As it was called back then, which is now viewed critically.
"Novak Djokovic does not take any risks"
tennisnet : Back to the present: Should Novak Djokovic get permission to play at the Australian Open - how much will he miss those five or six days when he couldn't train?
Wilander : You have to look at which players do well at the Australian Open. I succeeded, I've won three times. Why? Because I was always prepared, had a good pre-season, and didn't take any risks. Novak does not take any risks either. He's constantly playing at the same level. His self-confidence is always high because his belief in his footwork and that he does not make unforced mistakes is high. So you have to come out and beat Novak. Almost all of the players on the tour live on their self-confidence. And you don't get any self-confidence in November and December because no matches are played there. So most of the players come to Australia with hope but not with confidence.
# IMG2 #
tennisnet : And Djokovic always has this self-confidence?
Wilander : Novak is just difficult to beat. I don't think those four or five days make much of a difference. It might even give him the chance to recover a little. It will be more a question of emotions: In which situations will he find himself? How upset will he be if he is allowed to play? Why didn't they let me in right away? What's wrong with your rules? Or it's the other way around: That Novak is happily surprised at the end that he can play.
tennisnet : Has Alexander Zverev shown you enough in the last six months to convince you that he can win a major? He has not yet beaten a top ten man in a Grand Slam tournament.
Wilander : I think Sascha has a good chance in Australia. From a distance I would say: I don't care that he hasn't beaten a top ten player yet. He has shown that he can play over five sets at a very high level. The problem is not we observers, the problem is the changing room. There will be posters on the wall: You are playing against Sascha Zverev and he has not yet beaten a great player in a Grand Slam, blablabla. The coaches will feed their players with this information. And the reaction should then be of course: Oh, I won't be the one who loses to Sascha. But what about Sascha's level? Absolute top class.
tennisnet : Where is it most likely to succeed?
Wilander: I think that the surface in Australia offers Sascha the best chance. His serve is a monster on a faster court. He can play well behind the baseline with his basic strokes because it's so fast. But he's also gotten a lot more aggressive lately, no question about it. He's still a baseline player though. I think the conditions in Melbourne are perfect for Sascha. He'll win a major. Soon.
tennisnet : Does that also apply to Stefanos Tsitsipas, who sees himself on the same level as Djokovic, Medvedev and Zverev?
Wilander : Stefanos feels the need to win tennis matches. This is what it looks like when he plays. He often seems a little too excited when he's playing. On the other hand, it is also what distinguishes the really great players, that they have this unconditional will to win. But Stefanos needs the victories especially to be happy on the tennis court. In that regard, he reminds me of Andy Murray. He never gave up either. Why? Because in order to be at peace with himself, he had to win tennis matches. In terms of play, he is not as solid as Medvedev and Zverev, he has a small weakness on the backhand side and a larger one on the return. On the other hand, his forehand is incredible, he moves very well - and emotionally he is ready. If Stefanos isn't too excited, I think he's on a par with Medvedev, Djokovic and Zverev.
"I can totally understand Dominic Thiem"
tennisnet : How do you feel about the women's tournament?
Wilander : My gut tells me: Ash Barty. Naomi Osaka is back and has said that she is enjoying her life a little more. This is very important. I like that, even if it's more of a long-term than a short-term goal. Then you will have good and bad days, sometimes winning, sometimes losing - and no problem with that. Without simply having to put up with it. I think Naomi will find her way. And then there is Ashleigh Barty, whose bad day at the office is still sooooo good. Ash is incredibly good at finding weaknesses in her opponents. And she's number one in the world for a good reason. She really grew into this role. And Ash is still working on her game, such as her two-handed backhand. And she carries the hopes of Australia, where she is probably one of the most famous athletes. Everyone likes them. There are so many good things to be said about Ash. She found out that the fans support her, but that she is primarily playing for herself. For me, Barty and Osaka are the two players who could be number one and number two in the world in the next five or six years.
tennisnet : After the Australian Open, Dominic Thiem will return to the ATP tour. In South America, on sand. What can Austrian tennis fans expect?
Wilander : You can expect Dominic to really try everything. And that on its best surface. He's probably wanting to build a little bit of confidence because that's what you need when you haven't played. But you also want to play matches in which you have the feeling that you can win. That losing means something to you, that it hurts. Terrible. Dominic has to find out. Whether it is still important to him to win. And not to lose. I can totally understand Dominic, more than people can imagine. I won seven majors before I had my motivation problems. For reasons unrelated to tennis. And I've never found that "I hate to lose" feeling again. Dominic has to find this. And for that he has to play tough matches. And he should do it alone. Go anywhere no matter if someone is watching. Just do it for the sake of competition. If he gets a taste for it again, I think Dominic will come back.