Mats Merkel is on the road for Adidas as a scout in the tennis circus. When there is a coaching emergency, the 33-year-old steps in. Among other top players, Merkel has also looked after Caroline Wozniacki. The exclusive interview for tennisnet.com was conducted by Jens Huiber.
tennisnet: Mr. Merkel. We meet here in Wörschach at the final of the Adidas Club Challenge. What brings you to Upper Styria?
Mats Merkel: Well, I’m looking after Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas here, who fortunately jumped in at very short notice. He was in Kufstein with his little brother, who is playing a tournament there. I came back from Wimbledon on Friday, my colleagues stayed there for Angelique Kerber’s final. Of course, the event is at least as important today (laughs).
tennisnet: To stay briefly with Angelique Kerber: What match did you believe Kerber really had a chance to win the tournament?
Merkel: I was hoping for it from the first round. She has worked very, very well with Wim Fissette since the off-season last year. Even though it may not have worked out as well as Angie had hoped in Australia. From her point of view, the other tournaments have gone well. Nevertheless, it was always clear to me that she would be one of the top favourites at the Grand Slams. But by week two at the latest you’ll know: Angie is one of the top contenters who definitely plays for the title. The fact that she then won the final against Serena in two sets was, of course, an unbelievable performance. But also how she was partly cruised by the matches before, that was very, very good.
tennisnet: Kerber could have got into trouble against Belinda Bencic, almost lost a set.
Merkel: Yes, she was a bit lucky. But there she is Angelique Kerber and knows exactly how to play the girls. She benefits from her experience and of course from her unbelievable will to win. It motivates and inspires them to play their best tennis in those very moments.
tennisnet: The mixed situation at the top of the WTA is a bit confusing at the moment…
Merkel: That’s right. But my main task for Adidas is to scout and look for the next talents.
tennisnet: Of course, the junior women’s final at the French Open a few weeks ago comes to mind. The winner was an American, Cori Gauff, only 14 years old. What do you think of her?
Merkel: It’s already fantastic. Cori is physically incredibly far for her age, and has also developed extremely technically during the last twelve to 18 months. I really saw Cori for the first time when she played “Les Petites Aces”, the little aces, in the south of France at Touluse. One of the largest U-14 tournaments in the world. She played very well there, not winning the tournament, but you could see that she has unbelievable potential. I believe that with the right technical development it can soon achieve a lot.
tennisnet: Where do players of this calibre train?
Merkel: Gauff is with Mouratoglou in the academy, but also trains with José Higueras in Florida. She has a very, very good basis, super training partner. And an excellent hitting partner, which is extremely important for the ladies in order to develop quickly. He must be able to simulate the most diverse playing styles. She is on a very good way, has now lost in the quarter-finals in Wimbledon. But usually you don’t play in the U-18 grand slams until you’re 16.
tennisnet: Who do you have on your note at Adidas?
Merkel: Sebastian Korda is under contract with us. For me, however, it is the case that I always follow all the players who might come into question for us at some point in the future. Whether we finally manage to get players from other companies over to us is another question. But it worked out well for Sascha Zverev, for example.
tennisnet: How long have you been following the career of Stefanos Tsitsipas?
Merkel: I know Stefanos very well. I scouted it for the first time four years ago with my colleague Klaus Marten. We were at the Eddie Mr. Orange Bowl in Florida, Tsitsipas was extremely impressive. In my opinion he already has one of the best backhand returns on the tour. Extremely compact, for its size it moves very well. Has no injury problems yet, although he played a very intense season in 2018. That’s why it’s good to play one or two tournaments less. Stefanos has a good advisor to take care of him. I am pleased that it will bring us some visibility in the coming years.
tennisnet: His good understanding of Tsitsipas is also remarkable, even on grass, where he acted very offensively.
Merkel: In tennis, this is generally the case with the next generation, which will challenge the current generation. The sport of tennis always has to evolve. It is served very quickly, the boys return all well, but at the moment you can see on all surfaces that the players are playing very far behind the line.
tennisnet: Alexander Zverev too…
Merkel: Sasha too. For me this is a very clear indication that those players who want to get the Zverevs, Thiems, Nadals, Djokovics of this world out of the water must be able to play forward. This is essential.
tennisnet: Your relationship with Dominic Thiem is very special. Thiem was in Paris just before his first Grand Slam title. What do you think was missing in Roland Garros that day?
Merkel: I’ve known Dominic for a very, very long time. I am a good friend of his mentor and coach Günter Bresnik because I was there for the first year and a half when Dominic played on the tour, including his first Davis Cup appearance. Not only has a great cooperation developed, but also a good friendship. He has really developed very well. He can also use his strokes best on sand. I think he still lacks the very last belief that he can beat a player like Nadal in a best-of-five match. Dominic has already proven this in three-set matches. I think he can do it, but it’s an overwhelming situation: to play the final, which has won this tournament ten times in the last twelve years. You have to take a little pressure off Dominic and tell him it was a good performance. Well, it probably wasn’t good enough for him, and that’s why he’s Dominic. Otherwise he wouldn’t be where he is. And it will continue to grow in the coming years.
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