Alexander Peya has to pause because of an elbow injury. The Austrian double specialist worked for ORF on the Davis Cup weekend in Graz. A conversation about nervousness in old age, his partner Nikola Mektic and the incredible Mike Bryan.
By Jens Huiber from Graz
tennisnet: Mr. Peya. Andy Murray co-commented the semi-final of Wimbledon between John Isner and Kevin Anderson for the BBC. And afterwards we talked about how long and hard it would have been. How have you been in Graz?
Alexander Peya: The boys spared me, especially on the first day. Both were finished relatively quickly. But, of course, this could have been a very long time ago. And with the temperatures that prevailed on Friday, you sweat a lot in the cabin.
tennisnet: Do you really reveal everything you know to TV viewers? Or are you withholding some information out of respect for your colleagues?
Peya: I’m already trying to give it all away. Depending on the situation, of course, what one of the matches is offered at the moment. But it depends on your score how much you interfere or just let the game run.
tennisnet: What do you think of Lleyton Hewitt? He still doesn’t seem to have come to terms with the fact that he is already in a tennis pension.
Peya: No. And you could also see on Saturday that he is still playing sensationally – but also that he still spends a lot of time on the court. I saw him in Australia when he played doubles. And also before that in Sydney at an exhibition against Dimitrov – and it looked as if Lleyton was still an active player.
tennisnet: Oliver Marach announced after the double that he was a bit nervous at the beginning. Doesn’t all his experience help a player that much?
Peya: This has nothing to do with age. Even in old age you have already experienced many situations, and then you also notice when you don’t feel so good. For Olli this was a special pressure situation here in Graz. He just wanted to play particularly well, especially after this sensational season, which he has behind him. But don’t forget that he lost in the last two big tournaments in the first round. Olli probably does not have the self-confidence that one would expect from him at the moment.
tennisnet: Then the start is a complete flop…
Peya: … and that’s what I always say: in doubles it’s incredibly difficult to get your feeling back. Because you just don’t have the possibility to stand back and find rhythm over more trajectory and stay away from the lines. That doesn’t work in doubles. You have to stay on the lines, otherwise the netman is there and knocks the ball away.
tennisnet: in the world group Ivan Dodig lost the double for Croatia, but showed a strong performance. Dodig will play with Nikola Mektic, her real partner, during your injury. How do you see this connection?
Peya: It’s great that Nikola has such a top player in his country, who is currently without a partner. Dodig has already separated from Rajeev Ram to Wimbledon, so it is a lucky situation for Nikola, because he has already played with Dodig, gets along well with him. I’m glad because Nikola can’t help it if I hurt myself.
tennisnet: When will you know whether an operation on your elbow is necessary?
Peya: In the end, when I start playing tennis again. Then you will see whether the inner ligament holds, whether I was able to train the muscles so well that they can compensate for the damage to the inner ligament. This has to be worked out now, but I am still not painless in my everyday life and I cannot start strength training yet. And that’s very annoying.
tennisnet: The positive side?
Peya: I can spend more time at home with the kids. I witnessed my big man’s first day at school two weeks ago, when I would have been in New York. And as a tennis player you usually miss these special dates anyway, and accordingly I can also gain something positive from the break.
tennisnet: The hope and the goal is the ATP final in London. If it had to be – would you possibly even dare to start in Paris-Bércy?
Peya: That’s too far away, I can’t really say anything yet. Because I’m not painless yet. I don’t know how long it’ll take. I don’t want to start too soon. I won’t take any chances.
tennisnet: Finally – can you explain the latest triumphs of Mike Bryan?
Peya: An absolutely exceptional player. If you look at the list of successes, it’s incredibly impressive. They always thought it only worked in a team of brothers. But you have to add that in Jack Sock he has found someone who has proven for years that he not only wins Grand Slams but also Masters 1000 tournaments with different partners. Sock is almost the best doubles player we have at the moment. When he is fully concentrated because his way of playing is partly undefendable. And who also brings this looseness, because his hobbyhorse is actually the individual.
tennisnet: Contrary to the Bob and Mike Bryan …
Peya: If you’ve seen the Bryans last year, you’d think they were really on the decline. And I myself had the feeling that they no longer had the power. Especially when the Ossi (Philipp Oswald, Note d. Red) and I played against them in Vienna and should have won. Only then they changed clubs earlier this year. I think that helped them get to Babolat. It’s quick: win a few matches, a lot of self-confidence. When the bob injured himself against us, this was the fourth 1000 final in a row. That was first class.