He will be 38 years old in July and yet he is doing better than ever before: Oliver Marach has risen to number two in the ATP double ranking for the first time since last Monday behind his double partner Mate Pavic.
The Styrian, who lives in Panama, is still hungry for success and wants to reach at least the second tournament week with Pavic at the French Open.
“Of course it’s been a very positive year so far, it’s been incredible. Number two in the world sounds very nice, number one would of course be even better,” Marach said with a smile in an interview with the APA. Only 50 points difference lies between him and his Croatian partner.
Pavic won an ATP-500 title in Hamburg last year when Marach needed a break after the Wimbledon final. Pavic would therefore remain ahead of the Graz-born for the time being, even in the event of a tie.
However, Marach does not mind this circumstance. He is the best-placed Austrian in the ATP double of all times anyway, and in the ATP race to London, in which the pairs are rated, the two lead ex aequo anyway.
“It’s important to me that we play well together and have our results. At the end of the year it would be nice if we were among the top 3 teams, that was our goal. “The year is still long, a lot can still happen, but whether number 1 or 2 looks out now, I don’t care, as long as we play well.”
In singles, especially at the end of the year, there are special bonuses for top stars in the top 5 or top 3, and there is no big cash for such performances in doubles. “Well, my clothing company is Artengo, I could get something from them, but I’m not really asking for money from them. Our sponsor Citadel has been supporting me for two years, so of course we get money for it,” Marach revealed. Otherwise, however, it would be “very difficult” to attract large sponsors in doubles.
However, Marach has never had to regret his decision to move from singles to doubles and he has already taken care of his life after sport. The father of two has earned $3.392 million gross, including singles, this year alone after his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and three other tournament titles over $587,000.
Before the French Open Marach was quite cold and even had himself checked at the hospital to see if he had caught a virus. “Unfortunately, I got a bad cold from the children and my wife, but I feel better. The important thing is that I’m not physically weak.”
For the French Open, which opens Marach/Pavic against Sander Arends/Adil Shamasdin (NED/CAN) as number two, Marach only knows the first round. Unlike Dominic Thiem, the Styrian meticulously avoids knowing more about the tableau than about his next opponent. “You have to play every double, it’s always tight. Of course there are worse draws.”
The duo have long qualified for the previous season’s goal, participation in the “Masters” in London in November, and had to set new milestones.
“Yes, we can play it cool, but nevertheless we are number 2 and we haven’t played the sand tournaments we can play so badly now. Of course, one goal is to reach the second week and get as far as possible.”
But the real highlight follows to Paris: the lawn season, where the star of the duo rose last year after initial difficulties. In Stuttgart, Antalya and then sensationally in Wimbledon the duo reached the final.
“Of course, we’re under a bit of pressure. We have a lot to defend, but we know that we can play very well on grass,” Marach explained. If you do well at the French Open, only one performance in Queens is planned before Wimbledon, otherwise you could even compete in Stuttgart.
The 38-year-old is also keen to play Australia in the Heim-Davis-Cup in Graz in September. Marach has never played Davis Cup in his hometown.