The former top junior in the world, the former 35th player in the ATP rankings played his last match on August 30 at the US Open. Then he entrusted himself to medical care for four months. “Doctors were the order of the day for me. I have torn my hamstring twice. And nothing helped me for a long time,” explained Veselý, who finally had to order calmness.
The comeback to the daily routine, which he made under the guidance of fitness coach David Vydra, was all the more difficult. No wonder he lost weight. “Seven kilos. But I will never be like Medvedev and these lads. I’m simply more muscular,” said Veselý, whose tennis development will be handled by 32-year-old Emanuel Řehola after Davis Cup captain Jaroslav Navrátil.
Photo: Ondřej Deml, CTK
Tennis player Jiří Veselý (right) spoke at a press conference. In the picture, Sparta director Miroslav Malý hands him the club jacket.
“It’s not a return for two games, but I believe for a few years. At my age, I’m not at the end. I want to return to the highest level,” hopes the player, who has a 2-0 record with world number one Novak Djokovic. “They have to wait,” laughed Veselý.
But the way up will be complicated. Since the summer, he has gradually watched his name fall lower and lower in the world ranking. He is currently 495. He will therefore use a protected ranking for larger tournaments, and he also believes in the supply of wild cards. He is scheduled to present himself at the end of April at the clay challenger in Ostrava, where former top ten player Frenchman Gael Monfils (322nd), with whom Veselý planned training sessions, will also be heading.
“When I see how Dominic Thiem, who was a top 5 player, is struggling after his return, and how he is not doing well even on clay, then of course I know that it will not be easy. But I think I can beat even the best. Most of all, I want to stay healthy, have no downtime and play the whole season.”
And if things go well, Veselý would certainly not be against returning to the Davis Cup team, which will play one of the final groups in Valencia in September.
“The boys fought for it. It wouldn’t be fair to nominate myself for it. But if I’m fit, in shape and there’s interest, I’d definitely be happy,” he nods.
