Tennis forbidden, skiing allowed? Jürgen Melzer doesn't understand that either
Jürgen Melzer , the upcoming sports director of the Austrian Tennis Association (ÖTV), cannot do anything with the ban on playing tennis in the hall either.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Dec 02, 2020, 03:25 pm
Alfred Dorfer made the following comparison in one of his early cabaret programs: The only advantage the Austrians have over the Germans is that we, the Austrians, are fewer. In context, this referred to the vacation behavior of the two nations at the time. These days, however, hobby tennis players are better off in Germany: while in Austria the tennis halls are closed to amateur players, in some German federal states there is still permission to play indoors.
For example in Hesse, where DTB Vice President Dirk Hordorff persisted in unlocking the halls until politicians gave in to the pressure. A model that Hordorff recommends to other federal states or nations, as he explained in the latest edition of "Quiet, please - the tennisnet podcast". Even in Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony, games can be played in the hall under the well-known hygiene requirements. Not in Bavaria. Which is why the Bavarian Tennis Association (BTV) will now take legal action against the ban.
quietplease38
Jürgen Melzer "I do not understand the ban"
In Austria it looks like that from December 24th, outdoor sports like skiing or ice skating will be allowed, but not indoor tennis. Alex Antonitsch, tournament director of Kitzbühel, has little to gain from this regulation. Because the distances between the players in the hall are much greater than on an ice rink on a normal Sunday afternoon.
And of course Jürgen Melzer also deals with the situation. The Austrian double legend is preparing for the duties as sports director at ÖTV. And answered the most urgent questions in an interview with tennisnet.
tennisnet : Mr. Melzer. It looks like the halls for Austria's hobby players will remain closed until at least the end of the year. How do you assess the situation?
Jürgen Melzer : Basically, you have to say that we are very happy that the professionals and a lot of players are allowed to play. That was not the case in other sports. Now we have the case that the tennis halls do not open. If you look at the possibilities in a tennis hall, how far apart you can actually play with each other, then I do not understand that this is now prohibited.
tennisnet : We know from Germany that the pressure of tennis players on politics - through emails and calls - has borne fruit. Could you imagine something like that for Austria too?
Melzer : Why not? I do believe that it must be shown what it looks like in tennis. That we have the chance to start a sport that is definitely feasible with the necessary prevention concept. And it's not the case that many cases came up in the summer because people were playing tennis. You have to differentiate. If I now hear that the ski lifts are being unlocked, even if only up to half capacity, and the tennis halls have to stay, then that has absolutely no relation to me. That is incomprehensible to me.
tennisnet : Now the successes of Dominic Thiem, but also of you in Austria, have ensured that tennis is once again more popular. Do you fear a setback in this regard?
Melzer : There is currently a big tennis boom in Austria. And many people accept and understand that tennis is one of those sports that you can play during COVID. That's why a lot of new people came to tennis. And we have to see that we continue this. We have to show people what a great sport tennis is. And that's where we'll be working on it over the next few weeks, months, and years.
tennisnet : Do you have the feeling that ÖTV has a large lobby with decision-makers?
Melzer : That's extremely difficult to answer at the moment. The sport is simply put on the back burner. The prevailing view is apparently: Sport must remain, that is the safer option. As a passionate athlete, I just see it differently. A lot of people are “locked up” at the moment, don't exercise very much - and tennis is a sport that you could do without any problems. And it often helps if you just hit a ball so that you forget everyday life, which is not particularly sunny at the moment. Therefore, from my point of view, it is extremely important to reopen sports with a meaningful concept. And as quickly as possible.