Only Djokovic slows him down: Dominik Köpfer can hardly be stopped at the US Open
Dominik Köpfer's success story continues. The qualifier is surprisingly in the round of 16 at the US Open, his life is completely turned upside down.
by SID
last edit: Aug 31, 2019, 04:33 pm
Dominik Köpfer will visit his lucky charm at least once again on 49th Street in Manhattan. "A very good Italian" is there, reveals the 25-year-old, whom he visits "every time before the match". He even saw Angelique Kerber in the restaurant. You, however, joked Kopper, "it probably wasn't that lucky." On the other hand, he, the brilliantly performing qualifier, can still enjoy it.
Because the native Black Forest is sensational in the round of 16 in Flushing Meadows. "It doesn't feel real, I can't believe it, I'm speechless," he stammered after 6: 3, 7: 6 (7: 5), 4: 6, 6: 1 against the Georgian seeded at number 17 Nikoloz Basilashvili, he could not believe his coup. "I even forgot the match ball, I'm not sure what happened," Köpfer said.
But he remembered everything that happened before and after. So, of course, he immediately noticed the German tennis icon Boris Becker in the lower ranks of the grandstand. "He can't be overlooked with his blonde hair," said Köpfer, who also noticed that the six-time Grand Slam winner was "a bit nervous".
Heads after victory: "Too much news"
There was no reason to be nervous. Köpfer Basilashvili wrestled fearlessly and aggressively, tirelessly running after every ball, no matter how unreachable. Köpfer could only be stopped after he had had the greatest success of his career.
"I only waited ten minutes outside because Novak Djokovic and Denis Kudla gave their interview and I couldn't get into the locker room," Köpfer said: "So I stood outside trying to do it and looked at my cell phone ". But this, he added with a laugh, "makes no sense at the moment - too much news."
Friends and family can hardly keep up with their congratulations - only the second round in Wimbledon, then Köpfer marched through the qualification into the main field of the US Open, where he is now among the top 16 players. He has won six games in New York in the past two weeks - number seven is to follow on Sunday against Cincinnati winner Daniil Medvedev from Russia.
# BETATHOMEUSWIN #
Köpf's cash register does Ka-Ching!
But the trip to New York has already paid off for the man who went to Tulane University in New Orleans after graduating from tennis and now lives in Tampa, Florida. For the first time, Köpfer will be one of the 100 best players in the world after the tournament. "It was a childhood dream that has now come true," he said, and will climb at least 84th place in the world rankings.
To this end, the round of 16 draws a whopping $ 280,000 into the cash register - the previous career prize money was $ 332,732. It was sometimes difficult to "pay the coach every month," said Köpfer.
He no longer has these worries. And one or the other dinner at the Italian is sure to be included.