Officially retired since yesterday (Wednesday) after his double defeat alongside Alexander Zverev on “his” tournament in Vienna, Jurgen Melzer returned after the meeting to some significant events in his career including this unique and sublime victory on Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros in 2010.
On that day, the Austrian managed to win after being led to nothing by two sets against the Serbian (3–6, 2–6, 6–2, 7–6 (3), 6–4) ahead of a short Philippe Chatrier in turmoil. By the way, Melzer is still the only player to have achieved such a performance against Djokovic in a best of five sets match. And inevitably, this marks a career with a hot iron.
“Playing the last game of my career at home was a bonus. Being able to say goodbye here is special because it is the place where it all began ”, he first said in a speech full of emotion. “I will always remember my match against Djokovic, I will always remember having won twice in Vienna, having ridden on Wimbledon center court with Philipp (Petzschner, editor’s note) after winning the double. These are the sports memorabilia you treasure. You think of all the stories, all the things that make you smile. I didn’t think so much about victories. It’s just the time you spent on the Tour, meeting all these people, being friends with some, getting closer to some. These are actually the things that I will miss the most, not the wins or losses ”, concluded a very moved Jurgen Melzer and at the same time proud to have given everything for his beloved sport.
Posted on Thursday, October 28, 2021 at 19:48
