Jürgen Melzer will remain with the Austrian Tennis Association as sports director for at least three more years. In the interview with tennisnet.com, the legendary left-hander primarily addresses global questions about tennis.
by Jens Huiber
last edited: December 16, 2023, 7:36 a.m
© GEPA Pictures
Jürgen Melzer believes in a strong ATP tour
tennisnet: Mr. Melzer. Let’s…start with golf. A few weeks ago you were guests at the Ryder Cup in Rome. Is there anything comparable to this event in tennis?
Melzer: This was my 40th birthday present from one of my best friends. We even spent the whole week in Rome. It was really, really cool, a great experience. I’ve probably never walked as much as I did this week. The Laver Cup comes closest, of course, but there is still nowhere near this tradition. And not this importance either. When you’ve seen how the boys are going at it because there’s so much prestige at stake – you can almost breathe it when you’re standing there on the green. Luckily I was there when Victor Hovland chipped in from the green. I will never forget that. People exploded, including himself. It’s almost impossible to describe. For a sports fan, this is almost a must if you have the opportunity.
tennisnet: Now one of the European protagonists, Jon Rahm, has said goodbye to the PGA Tour for the LIV Tour for a lot of money. As is well known, it is financed from Saudi Arabia. There could be a similar development in tennis with the so-called “Premium Tour”. Would tennis tolerate something like that?
Melzer: First of all, Jon Rahm: Anyone who is offered $450 million has the right to think about it. He will have provided for generations. Anyone who judges this hasn’t put the shoe on themselves yet. But in golf we have seen that not informing players is dangerous. Just like what apparently happened with the merger between the PGA and the LIV Tour. Does tennis now need a “LIV Tour”? I have always been a big ATP sympathizer. I believe that in golf the PGA Tour has developed extremely further due to the new competition. And you can currently see on the ATP Tour that there has been some progress thanks to the influence of the PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association). I’m thinking about the financial security of the players. How much that is at the moment is still a secondary matter. But something is happening. Personally, I would be happy if there was no premium tour. I believe that a tour where you make improvements in the right places and stay in dialogue with the players is the better solution. But just as it didn’t kill golf, it wouldn’t kill tennis either.
Jürgen Melzer on changing formats: “I’m totally with Zverev”
tennisnet: What makes you so optimistic?
Melzer: The most important thing in our sport are the Grand Slams. You can’t put so much money into other tournaments that this would be more important than a major. Tennis is a traditional sport. Even if you don’t have to stick to every tradition. At the end of the day it’s a question of supply and demand: If this tour exists, the fans want to see it and the players go, then the ATP will have to think about something.
tennisnet: The tradition you mentioned is also being scratched with new formats, such as the Ultimate Tennis Showdown. We asked around at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna whether the players could imagine such a format at a 250cc tournament. Result: Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Gael Monfils and Stefanos Tsitsipas want to stick to the tradition of the game format. Only Dominic Thiem has shown interest in something new. Where do you stand on this issue?
Melzer: When I sat on the ATP Council, we had big traditionalists with Roger Federer and Andy Murray. I can only give a very personal answer here: I am completely with Zverev and the rest. You shouldn’t change the DNA of the sport. Because tennis is still successful in the top segment. The problem with the 250s isn’t the game format. But the lack of the top players.
“The ITF’s next shot must be right”
tennisnet: Speaking of DNA: The ITF massively intervened in the DNA of the Davis Cup a few years ago. Your German counterpart as Davis Cup captain Michael Kohlmann said the world association’s next shot must be taken, probably after 2024. Do you have a solution for this competition?
Melzer: I’m all about coal. I hope that the ITF will talk to the top players and not go it alone like last time. When that happens, the correct format is also found. The generations have changed, of course. My feeling is that it used to be worth more to play for your country. I’m all for home-and-away ties coming back. Because even if 800 people clap for you like they did in our game against Pakistan, it’s different than playing somewhere you’re not at home. But neither does the opponent. At the finals a few weeks ago the mood was right. But I also think: the next shot has to be right.
tennisnet: There is some good news these days: Leander Paes, one of your former doubles partners, has been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport. What can you tell us about Paes?
Melzer: Leander was probably one of the most talented players I’ve ever had the pleasure of sharing a court with. He is an absolute doubles legend and has won everything there is to win. All he is missing is Olympic gold. He was missing the Australian Grand Slam for a long time, but Leander finally won there with Radek Stepanek. For me he is simply a brilliant tennis player, probably the best net player there has ever been in doubles. How fast he was, how he always went through things – and he always helped you when you were at the net. As an extrovert, Leander was also polarizing. Also because, if you want to put it that way, he knew how to make good use of the rules. When you played with him, you always had the feeling: He was completely behind you. As long as he believed in the partnership. He gave you so much confidence. And I won my only Masters 1000 title with him. What’s more: I also picked up a few things from him for singles.
tennisnet: You won in Shanghai in 2010 with the new Hall of Famers. Can you personally relate to the concept of this hall of fame, which has a great tradition in major US sports?
Melzer: Because I’m so far away from being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame…
tennisnet: Small objection! You were the last player to date to be ranked in the top ten in singles and doubles at the same time.
Melzer: That won’t be enough… which is perfectly fine. I don’t think Leander’s life would have changed much if he hadn’t been accepted there now. It is of course an honor, also because you see that your career is also perceived as successful by others.
tennisnet: Finally, a word about Joel Schwärzler. What goals are there for 2024, what can Austrian tennis fans realistically expect from him – perhaps an attack on the #NextGen Finals?
Melzer: The big theme is: Joel has to continue to develop as a tennis player. Next year the French Open, Roehampton, Wimbledon and the US Open will be the only junior tournaments. His personal goal is to win a junior Grand Slam event. For me, the main focus is definitely on how Joel establishes himself on the men’s tour, how he gains a foothold, and how quickly we can make the leap away from the Futures. The #NextGen Finals are not an issue at all, he is still too far away. If that happens, of course we take it. But it would be a huge surprise. Realistically, there are some players who are even better at his age. We have a lot of work ahead of us to ensure that Joel improves in all aspects. We will devote ourselves to that. Joel now has to go from being a kid to becoming a tennis man.
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Melzer Jürgen
2023-12-16 07:02:00
#shouldnt #change #DNA #tennis #tennisnet.com
