In 2017 Matthias Bachinger went where it really hurts a seasoned tennis pro: to the futures. In the new year, the attack on the Top 100 is to take place again. As of today, Bachinger will compete in the qualification for the Australian Open.
tennisnet: If you watch your training, you notice that you are really hot for tennis. Is this a permanent state of affairs for you?
Matthias Bachinger: No, that is certainly not always the case. But at the moment it’s true. 2017 was not easy, especially the first six months. I was hurt, dropped back to 500. It was a whole new situation for me. I had to mess with Challenger Qualis, fight my way back. Played futures. And in May I asked myself: do I want to end this now – or do I want to accelerate again?
tennisnet: Obviously you have decided to accelerate.
Bachinger: Exactly. I said to myself: You give everything for the sport once again – and then you just see how it works. And since June, July things have been going very, very well again. I have improved to 180th place, there is still room for improvement, of course, but if someone had told me this before the beginning of the year, I would have signed it immediately. My goal was to qualify for the Australian Open, which I managed relatively easily – and now I’m hot for more.
tennisnet: You look very fit.
Bachinger: Yes! I’m finally healthy again, I can go on the pitch with joy. Sure, you always have a few little aches and pains. But with my big construction sites, my knees, I have no problems. Now the attack on the top 100 will come. I’m going to screw everything up, I’m mentally and physically ready for it, in the end you never know what’s going to come out of it. And with age, you get wiser.
tennisnet: And more experienced. You have already successfully qualified for a major several times. Does that help you with regard to Australia?
Bachinger: Yeah, sure. There are a lot of boys who play incredible tennis, but they don’t have as much experience as I do. I’m only 30 years old now, but I’ve been around ten years. I go more relaxed in the tournaments, I try everything, but you shouldn’t want to force it. Too much pressure often goes into your pants. That’s my experience. For me it is important to go on the course with serenity and fun. If you’re afraid of going on the court, you can’t play good tennis.
tennisnet: easier said than done.
Bachinger: No, no. Playing in Australia, for example, is a privilege. That’s how I try to get into it. That doesn’t always work, of course. But if I work professionally, stay calm, I will also be successful.
tennisnet: Professionalism also includes working on the material. How much did you experiment in the off-season?
Bachinger: In preparation I’m already experimenting a little bit, because I play a very heavy racket and try to go down there a little bit. Not only headache, but generally difficult. But so far, it’s never worked out to go down there. I feel comfortable with it, play relatively flat, little topspin, so I like the heavy racket. But I still say to myself every year: come on, take a little weight off. However, you simply feel comfortable with the material you have been successful with. I’ve reached position 80, so it’s hard to change things in my head. I have tried something new again this year – but I will definitely stick to HEAD’s Prestige Pro. It’s all about the weight and the string.
tennisnet: How difficult was it for you to get back over the futures?
Bachinger: At that point in time, I didn’t really care which tournament I played. I was so hot on the competition, I just wanted to go out to play for points and win tournaments. And then the two futures I played were in Bolzano. that was really small and cute, and not bad at all. Especially since I won a tournament. I bit my way through it, which was good for me. I wouldn’t do it again, but at that time it was good for me.
tennisnet: You mentioned the young players you played against on the Challenger Tour. Is there anyone who made a special impression on you?
Bachinger: On the one hand, the Maxi Marterer. I really hope that he’ll get off to a flying start. He’s already in the top 100. Maxi is a good guy, and I’m happy if he succeeds.
tennisnet: And international?
Bachinger: Félix Auger-Aliassime. I played against him in Bratislava this fall. I wasn’t quite fit, but nevertheless: The boy is incredibly far away in terms of personality and athletics. His attitude is simply top notch. Félix doesn’t doubt when he strikes balls out, he doesn’t complain when he has made a mistake, doesn’t let his head hang. I think it’s very, very good.
tennisnet: Entry into adult tennis seems to be getting harder every year…
Bachinger: We thought a few years ago that it was almost impossible for the 17 and 18-year-olds to make it into the Top 50. Now with Shapovalov and Rublev there are some very young people, of course we don’t have to talk about Sascha Zverev. It’s absolutely world class.