Tim Pütz is back on the road to success.The 29-year-old from Frankfurt reaches the final of the Val Gardena ATP-Challenger, which is endowed with 64,000 euros, his first Challenger event since Eckental 2014.
Pütz, who fought his way through the qualification, defeated the Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-7 (2), 6-1,7-6 (5), who was seeded number 4, in an exciting match on the fast hard court in Ortisei on Saturday afternoon.
The world rankings 459.never faced a breakball, convinced himself with a stable serve play and finally benefited from a double error of his opponent to finish the match after just over two hours.
In the tennisnet. com interview after his semi-final victory in Ortisei, Pütz talks about his great week in Grödnertal, his debut with the German team in the Davis Cup at the play-offs of the world group in Portugal last month, and why he would also compete in an ATP-Challenger tournament on Kuhmist.
tennisnet: Congratulations, Tim!That was a close match today.What made the difference in the end?
Pütz: That was one of the matches where you don’t get many chances.I knew that before.The surface here is incredibly fast and the ball also flies enormously away due to the high altitude.The first set may have been a bit unhappy, but in the tie-break it can go like this and sometimes like that.You could see that in the third set.Fortunately, the course of events finally went in my direction.
tennisnet: What does it mean to you to be back in an ATP-Challenger single final after three years?
Pütz: First and foremost, it shows me that I am healthy.Unfortunately, I have rarely managed to play through an entire season so far.This year it looks a little different.I could train without restrictions.This makes me happy and all the more beautiful that this is also reflected in the results.
tennisnet: Two years ago, you had surgery on your right knee.You’re on the court today with some kind of bandage.Does the injury still affect you in some way?
Pütz: I play with a cured clasp to relieve the patella tendon.I’ve only been wearing this part to the beginning of my matches on Hartplatz since this week, as I’ve been on the sand all the time before.It is purely preventive and doesn’t bother me at all.
tennisnet: The fast surfaces seem to suit you, too.You have already achieved good results in Eckental on carpet in the past and have already won the double title here in Ortisei.Since your stature doesn’t exactly count as a service giant, this is rather unusual.How did this happen?
Pütz: That’s right, but I like it when there’s a roof over the court.I just love playing indoors, even on slower surfaces.I don’t know why either.Nevertheless, I can also cope well with the fast surfaces.I don’t serve so hard, but I am very variable with my service.This helps even if a baseline game is almost impossible.
tennisnet: Despite all the good results here, the highlight of the year was definitely at your Davis Cup debut in Portugal a few weeks ago.Did you ever reckon with a vocation?
Pütz: No, not at all.I hadn’t even thought of that.In the last four months there have just been so many things going my way that I’m just so happy at the moment – as far as tennis is concerned.But that also gives you the possibility to play free.
tennisnet: How was the Davis Cup experience?
Pütz: It was great.I’ve always been with the team at games in Frankfurt, went out for dinner or trained with them every now and then.This has made it very pleasant that I already knew them all.Not only the players, but also the support team.So I was by no means the stranger who joins a new team.It was really a great week and we all got along great.Everything fit beautifully.
tennisnet: With Boris Becker, a special tennis sports personality was also present from the support staff.Did you know each other and how was the contact with Boris?
Pütz: We had a chat in Wimbledon 2014 and saw each other at some Grand Slams once in a while.But of course I got to know him quite differently at the Davis Cup.That was sensational for us.Especially for someone like me, who at the age of 29 can still have such a personality in his team with him, it is unbelievable.If I had watched Becker on TV as a child, I would never have dreamed that 20 years later I would be on the court with him and he would tell me how to serve.
tennisnet: Does he do that?Does he give individual tips?
Pütz: Yes, yes.He was on the pitch and had said from the outset that if we should have any questions, just let us know.He did very well.He was always responsive, didn’t do too much either.He has not always criticized me, but once I had four serves in a row, he was there with advice.It was very pleasant for all of us.
tennisnet: In the Davis Cup you have had a successful double and are still very successful in this discipline.Do we set priorities over time?
Pütz: So far, I have been lucky not to have to make a final decision, whether it’s singles or doubles.I can play both at the same tournaments.I’m not so high in the double ranking that I should only play tour events, but Challenger fit in exactly and this is also the case in the singles.I have to make a decision in maybe three weeks of the year, but that’s still within reasonable bounds and is okay.In the future we will see.
tennisnet: You have already prepared for the time after your career with a bachelor’s degree in economics.Are there any other plans in this respect?
Pütz: Afterwards I started with a Master’s degree in the USA, but then I went back to Germany and continue my studies at the Fernuni Hagen.It’s hard, but it gives me something to do at the tournaments.I’ve been in Ortisei since last week, Thursday.I’m alone without a coach, without a girlfriend, without anything.Then it’s good to come to the hotel and do what you have to do, and not just watch series or play Gameboy.Even if I don’t pursue a concrete professional goal with the Master’s degree, I would like to use the time on tour to finish my studies.I’d have been upset if I hadn’t done it.
tennisnet: After Ortisei we return to Germany.In Ismaning next week a new ATP-Challenger will take place.That’s a pretty great thing for the German players, isn’t it?
Pütz: Absolutely!Whenever a Challenger is added in Germany, I hit three crosses.I’d be there, even if we were playing on cow dung.I know how difficult it is to organize this kind of tournaments, even in such prosperous regions as Munich.It’s great that they do this and that the Wolffkran is a sponsor.Next year we will be happy to add three more events next year (laughs).
tennisnet: In the final match tomorrow against the Italian Lorenzo Sonego.How do you assess your chances?
I saw him play for the first time ever this week.He plays very fast, risky and hard.Anything’s possible with the surface here.
Thank you very much for the conversation and good luck!