Monte Carlo finalist Sam Weissborn: "This success gives me a huge boost"
Sam Weissborn sensationally reached the final of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo with his Monegasque partner Romain Arneodo. And there even had the chance to win the title with two match balls. In an interview with ÖTV, Weissborn gives an insight into his life as a tennis pro.
by ÖTV
last edit: Apr 17, 2023, 02:53 pm
Sam, an incredible week from you! You were only in the competition with a wildcard and ultimately one point was missing for the ATP Masters 1000 sensational victory. How much do you still mourn the two missed match points in the final?
Sam Weissborn: Not anymore. We played boldly and did what we set out to do. It comes as it comes. We achieved so much with the final, financed the remainder of the season. With an ATP Challenger, the pressure is higher for me - because at that level you have to play ten strong weeks a year. In a week like this, however, the final is already a complete turning point in my career.
Romain was in the semifinals at his home game in Monte Carlo in 2017. But how much did you surprise yourself with this week?
Completely! Before the week we said to ourselves, "Winning a round would be great." It's like a Challenger win in terms of points. For this strong field we had a relatively good draw in the first round. After that we played against the second, sixth and fifth best doubles of the previous year, among others. It would be bold to say that we expected to almost beat all three. (laughs)
If someone had told you that last week, you are playing in the final: what would you have said?
We probably would have just smiled. We would have signed a quarter-final in advance. But as it sometimes goes, everything goes in the right direction.
What kind of experience was it for you to play an ATP Masters 1000 tournament for the first time in your career, then in front of such a backdrop, with Prince Albert of Monaco euphorically supporting you in the grandstand in the final?
First and foremost, it was a huge honor for me to play at all. Therefore, the first round was particularly important. One wonders in advance whether this is just a pity wildcard or because Romain was still looking for a partner. Then you prove to yourself that you belong there - that was a nice, liberating feeling. Some think less, for some the wheel is constantly running up there. I'm more of the latter type. I always had doubts about whether I could do it. Of course, this success gives me a lot of impetus. This makes tennis a lot more fun again.
In your professional career, which started in 2009, you earned $270,375 in prize money before Monte Carlo – minus taxes and all costs. How was it even possible for you to finance yourself over such a long period of time, especially since you switched to less lucrative doubles in 2014?
There's two factors. One is championship. Most of those who play on the ITF tour or ATP Challenger doubles finance their lives that way. Without playing in the league, being a professional would not be possible for most people. The second factor is luck with a management that believed in me and supported me financially. I've been under contract with McCartney Sports for ten years now, run by Raimund Carl, who has actually carried me through my career. And not only once persuaded me to keep trying, persuaded me to believe in it. For that I am all the more grateful to him. Otherwise I would have played out of my basket long ago (work as a coach; note) , because I have often asked myself the question of meaning. And then there's Klaus Greiner, who always takes care of my racquets reliably and quickly, purely as a friendship. Simply because he likes to support me. Apart from the fact that it helps financially, of course, it's a nice feeling that there are people who help for selfless reasons.
How much relief does a 76,070 euro check bring? You can use that not only as a professional, but also as a young father, right?
In any case! That's a great check, but what gives me more personally is being able to play the big tournaments now, having a secure, regular, good income and, above all, the memories that I will have with my soon-to-be wife and with my son . I've seen three of the four Grand Slams alone, now we'll be able to experience all of that together - and that's priceless.
Very beautiful words. But where is the money actually invested?
There is no investment at all, I don't want to attack it at first if possible. But maybe Romain and I will take a common trainer with us on the tour in the future. It's just difficult to agree on someone who both trust. But we'll talk about it. Otherwise, I have the plan with my young family to maybe create something of our own - the plan has now become a little more realistic.
How much does being a father inspire you?
It makes a huge difference. The whole tour is so much less important and everything is much more relaxed for me when the little one is sitting out there and doesn't clap for me any more than for the others - because he's just having a good time. Bottom line, tennis is a game. There's no point in stressing yourself out too much. In the end, it's all about getting the best out of it.
2023 could have been very different for you. Originally you wanted to play with your compatriot and friend Maximilian Neuchrist this year, right?
Yes, that was the plan to start with Max this year. But then he decided to really get going again in singles. (Laughs) I already knew from last year how difficult it is as a doubles professional to play with singles players, because the focus is always on the singles. So I said to him: "Concentrate on that if you're playing so well there now and I'll see that I find someone for the doubles." So I wrote to Romain afterwards and asked him if we would like to team up. And Max is playing amazing now. I'm really happy for him that he's made it to the Grand Slams again. I'm as happy for him as I am for myself.
About two months ago you said that this could be your best season so far. What made you so confident?
I had unbelievable conditions last year, with a lot of points behind me and hardly anything to defend for more than half a year. But then I fell into a bit of a low with my doubles partner at the time. And that's not the case at all now.
What makes Romain and you as a double? How do you complement each other so well?
First of all, it fits socially. We're relatively on the same wavelength, we don't take it too seriously and our main concern is to have a good life with a professional career. And playfully it fits because we are relatively different. We are also superior to many older teams on a physical level. Romain is very fast-paced and has unbelievable basic strokes. My strength is more on the net, and that complements it quite well: he prepares, I take the pick up front. (laughs)
But your current rise probably has another reason: your serve has been a shortcoming for a long time. Why was that and to what extent do you see this construction site being resolved in the meantime? In Monte Carlo you served very well for the most part.
I never served badly when I was younger, but it's true, I then went through a phase where I didn't serve well and had real problems. It was mostly a confidence thing. If you're served badly and you realize that people are talking about it, then at some point it gets into your head and is stored there - like on a hard drive, and you can't get it out anymore. But there comes a moment when you show everyone what you've got, and then you relax again. For me, the problem has been largely resolved for a few years. I'm really happy with how this has developed over the past few years and how I've served in Monte-Carlo.
What was your goal for the season and to what extent do you perhaps have to revise it now?
We wanted to make it to the Grand Slams. The US Open was the goal. They are a bit further away, there is enough time until the end of August. But then we started this season well, played well in the important tournaments, won a big ATP Challenger in Belgium, then a semi-final at the ATP 250 tournament in Marseille, where we only got in as alternates on Sunday evening and then arrived an hour and a half before our first round and then played incredibly. Thanks to Monte-Carlo, we're not only in the Grand Slam from the French Open, we can now play almost consistently on the ATP tour - and hopefully we'll be able to do that for many years to come, we want to be there establish permanently. You can now plan more quickly, which is more fun. As a professional, you need someone at home who has a lot of understanding for this, and so it is now easier for the family with greater planning security.