Oscar Otte in Ostrava: "You have your freedom, you are not in a bubble"
Many tennis professionals may have suffered from the forced Corona break - Oscar Otte is certainly not one of them. The 27-year-old German started the 2020 season with three defeats and has been picking up speed again since the tour restarted.
by Florian Heer from Ostrava
last edit: Sep 05, 2020, 09:41 am
Oscar Otte celebrated his first match successes at the ATP Challenger tournaments in Prague over the last 14 days. At the Ostrava Open by Moneta this week he is in the semifinals. Following his victory in the quarter-finals against the Czech local hero Zdenek Kolar, we met with the man from Cologne for an interview.
tennisnet: Congratulations on yesterday's victory. After two tournaments in Prague you are now on the road for the third week in the Czech Republic. What are the impressions of the tour during the pandemic?
Oscar Otte: Everything is relatively normal here. You hardly have the feeling that Corona is here. Of course there are the necessary, tightened hygiene rules, but it is very pleasant to play here. You have your freedom and are not in a bubble, as in some other tournaments. It's fun and we're all happy to be able to play again.
Regular tests for the players continue to exist. Have these already become routine?
Definitely. At first it was all very uncomfortable, but you get used to it. You go out twice a week every now and then. It's easy.
Do you have the impression that something has changed from the first tournament since the restart to today?
It is difficult to say whether everything is being handled more loosely now. It is also difficult to isolate the players as there are many spectators on the premises. However, everyone has to assess the whole situation for themselves and decide whether they want to take part in a tournament.
Are you concerned about the current situation?
No, that's not me. Sure, health comes first. But we are all not part of the risk group and are happy to be back on the tour. I think it's all going well overall.
You travel a lot with Mats Moraing, who is also at the start here in Ostrava. They maintain a good friendship with one another and train at Heiner and Peter Moraing's tennis academy.
I got together with Mats' cousin Emma a few years ago. Then I switched to training in Mühlheim an der Ruhr. We've been going to tournaments together for almost three years now. We all get along very well. We see each other on and off the pitch regularly and I've almost become part of the family. That is very nice.
Do you feel that there is increasing competitive pressure due to the few tournaments currently taking place? Is it more difficult to get into the events?
All players came back from the break with good grip and well prepared. The density of level of players has become higher. More and more good young players follow, the older ones stay longer on the tour. The level is very high, it's fun to measure yourself against it.
After a less successful start to the season, you achieved very good results in the national tournament series and now seem to be in very good shape. Did the break do you good?
What does pause mean? We trained a lot during this time, especially in the physical area. The DTB series and the International Premier League also helped me immensely to get my match rhythm back. It is now paying off.
Where do you want to be at the end of the year?
It's difficult to say because my focus is initially on this week or the next match. The most important thing is to stay healthy so that many matches can take place. If things continue to go well, then my goal has been to get into the top 100 for years.
Is it your first tournament in Ostrava?
Yes.
Have you already had the opportunity to look at something?
We were in town once or twice in the evening and went out to eat. We also briefly visited the mall. But there wasn't time for more.
Then good luck in the semifinals against Tallon Griekspoor and all the best.