Maximilian Torterer missed the next round of the last sixteen. But the 22-year-old from Nuremberg gained a lot of valuable experience at the Australian Open.
Marterer was defeated by the American Tennys Sandgren after 2:56 hours 7:5,3:6,5:7,6:7 (5:7). Before the first Grand Slam of the year, the world rankings-94. all of his 14 matches on the ATP tour. After his retirement Hoffenheim fan tennisnet gave an interview.
Question:”Maximilian Torture, the dream is over. How big a disappointment?”
Torterer:”Today I had to pay tribute to the first set, which was very strenuous. I felt quite good at the beginning of the game. In the fourth set I found my way back into the game through the fight, then two stupid points in the tiebreak decided the match. If I had won the round, it would have been an open game again. Accordingly, I am somewhat disappointed. The five-set win over Fernando Verdasco was still in my bones, I could tell.”
Question:”What role did the lack of experience play?”
Torterer:”I don’t think that played such a big role. My opponent today was as inexperienced as I was. But of course a lot of things were new to me at this tournament. On Thursday I had played my first five-match match ever, after which I had to think: How to regenerate, how to prepare.”
Question:”Two victories in the main draw of a major have never been achieved before. What will be your most important asset?
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Torterer:”It was a very nice time, because it was my most decently successful Grand Slam tournament so far. In this respect, I will take many positive experiences from this week and look to the future with confidence. The processes, the regeneration between the matches and the media presence – many things were still unknown to me. It was a lot of theory before, now I have experienced it live. I have shown that I can win long matches. I wonder what else this year has to offer.”
Question:”What’s your relationship with Alexander Zverev, who is only two years younger than you?”
Torterer:”I would say that we respect and understand each other. I have only just made it to the top of the rankings, which is why we haven’t met as often as we could have done in the last few years. But I hope that I will be able to improve further and that in the future I will be able to play the bigger tournaments in which Sascha has been participating for a little longer than I have. I’ve won a game for many rubbers and tournaments on sand and carpet.”
Question:”You played yourself a little bit into the centre of attention with your third-round move. How would you characterize yourself?”
Torterer:”I am relatively relaxed, a bit reserved, a rather quiet person. As a player on the court, this is similar. I’m not someone who’s in big trouble. In the match against Verdasco, however, I had to step out of myself. That’s what I needed to get through this game. Sometimes I surprise myself on the court. All in all, however, I can say that my development has been relatively constant all the time.”
Question:”From 2. till 4. The Davis Cup match against hosts Australia in Brisbane is due to begin in February. Is a nomination a topic for you?”
Torterer:”I am not yet an option for Brisbane. But it would be great if I could get an invitation after that.”
Question:”You are a fan of the 1899 Hoffenheim soccer team. The Kraichgau team invited you to a home game when they found out that you like the club. Is there an appointment for the visit yet?”
Torterer:”I was very happy about the invitation and will accept it of course. It will certainly be a great experience to be in a home game. Apart from that, I’m more of an away game type and look at Hoffenheim in Munich or Augsburg.”