Martin Klizan, a former winner of the ATP World Tour 250 tournament in Munich, has also won a place in the main field.
While Alexander Zverev and his brother Mischa held an extensive training session at the Center Court in Munich, the last qualifying match for the tournament in Munich took place on Sunday on the side court.
Almost in the shadow of the main square, Martin Klizan and Jozef Kovalik, two Slovaks, faced each other. The former is no stranger to the sand court tournament in the Bavarian metropolis. It was exactly four years ago, when Klizan himself stood on the Center Court and fought down the Italian Fabio Fognini after a set deficit in the final to stretch his second trophy on the ATP World Tour into the white-blue sky. A lot has happened in the meantime.
In April 2015, the 28-year-old from Bratislava reached his personal top position in the ATP ranking with 25th place. Two years later, however, Klizan suffered a severe injury to his left calf, which cost him almost the entire season. In the meantime he had to withdraw from a total of seven ATP events due to injury.
“I couldn’t play for five or six months last year. That was a difficult time,” says Klizan on the fringes of the tournament in Munich, where the conditions for a successful start were not ideal.
“I arrived here one and a half hours before the start of my first match yesterday,” said the world number 140, who defeated Ernests Gulbis in three sets in his opening match on Saturday.
“My flight was two hours late. I just sat all day, either in the car, at the airport or on the plane, and it was very difficult for me to adapt to the conditions here. I also had pain in my knee and I was about to give up. If I had lost the first game in the second set, I would probably have left the pitch,” smiles a relieved Klizan in the MTTC Iphitos clubhouse.
Last week in Barcelona was a very successful week for the left-hander. Here, too, Klizan fought his way through the qualification to finally advance to the quarter-finals of the ATP 500 event with victories over Federico Delbonis, Feliciano López and Novak Djokovic. There he was faced with Rafael Nadal, an overpowering opponent, but Klizan almost managed to take at least one set from the king of the clay court.
“Winning matches against strong opponents gives you back your confidence. My shape is better now than it was in February. I’m just happy to be able to play again and I’m looking forward to returning to Munich.”
In spite of all adversities, Klizan also makes it into the main field here. He beat Kovalik 6:1, 6:2 in two sets and won after only one hour and 12 minutes.
“It’s always hard to play a fellow countryman. Physio’s done a good job. I feel much better today,” Klizan says.
“I have no specific expectations for this week. I look from match to match. Of course, the situation this year is completely different due to the injuries of the past. “Every round I win is a bonus.”
Klizan qualified for the tournament in 2014 and finally left it as champion. It’s quite possible that the five-time ATP tournament winner will once again provide one or two surprises. However, Florian Mayer is a tricky opening opponent in the main draw. Klizan will, however, be able to return to the centre court.