Dennis Novak has continued his wondrous fairytale journey from Wimbledon. After the successful five-set thriller against 17th seed Lucas Pouille (France), the qualifier put his money on a long treatment for the first time – and gets the mental strength for the third round match against former tournament finalist Milos Raonic (Canada/No. 13) also from his buddy Dominic Thiem.
By Ulrike Weinrich from Wimbledon
After the stroke of genius in the lawn Mecca, Dennis Novak immediately focused on the next Herculean task. Best indication for this: The press conference was postponed by a good 70 minutes – room 5 instead of room 6 was at the end. First of all, after his first five-set game, the world ranking 171st collected the care he deserved, which is supposed to prepare him for another surprise on Friday against service giant Raonic.
“I went to the massage after the match for an hour, the physio stretched me. I will be fully fit again on Friday,” said Novak, who was modest and committed after his biggest career coup to date. By this time, 100 WhatsApp messages had already landed on his smartphone. “More like it. But I will answer most of them when I have time tonight,” Novak announced – and made a clear announcement: “Of course there are people who are now writing again, but I don’t answer those messages.
As a young boy, he himself had dreamed of winning a game over the full distance in Wimbledon, of all places, at the Grand Slam classic. But when it really happened on Wednesday afternoon after 2:56 hours in 18th place in the shadow of the most famous Centre Court in the world, it felt “much better” than expected: “That was simply incredible,” Novak said. And the blue eyes shone even more than usual.
By the way, he also settled his score with Wimbledon. In the junior competition, Neufelder had once led 13:12 on his own serve in the third round against a favourite for the title – and then lost 13:15. “That was really bitter for me back then,” recalled the pleasant surprise man with the tattoos on both arms.
It was also bitter when Novak had to take a break from December 2016 to the end of April 2017 due to patella tendon problems. However, at that time he also saw a light that was perhaps decisive in his leap into the limelight of London. “I realized then how much I missed the sport,” the 24-year-old emphasized. Since then, Austria’s number four, who managed his first victory against a top 20 professional on Wednesday, is giving it all for his love of tennis: “I have become more mature and reasonable”.
His buddy Dominic Thiem also helps him. The French Open finalist, whose father Wolfgang is Novak’s coach, had to give up his first-round match injured on Tuesday. But as a phantom, the “Dominator” is still somehow in the English capital. “We speak daily. Domi told me how well I can play. He really believes in me, and that gives me security. That feels good,” Novak said about the special connection to the world ranked seventh.
They will also talk about the next opponent of the qualifier. In Raonic on Friday the Wimbledon finalist of 2016 is waiting for Novak. “I need to see that I can defuse his serve and be active from the baseline. I have to move him, that’s not quite his strength,” analysed the Austrian aptly.
Dennis Novak will be ready when the next task, which is as exciting as it is difficult, awaits. It’s a fact: Nothing seems impossible for the surprise man in these crazy days of Wimbledon.