ATP: Philipp Kohlschreiber in Vienna – “We call Günter Il Commandante”

Philipp Kohlschreiber took a few minutes to talk to the press after his first-round finish at the ATP World Tour 500 tournament against Lucas Pouille. The questions were all asked by tennisnet.

Question: Mr. Kohlschreiber. Last week in Stockholm you fended off five match points against Fernando Verdasco. What’s it like today when you’ve fended off Pouille again?

Kohlschreiber: I didn’t really think about it today, but it was such a match, where you wonder if you had one in all your matches on the tour or in the whole years, where you fended off so many match balls and still did the thing. It felt better to me, Fernando was pretty pissed off. I fought my way through, today too, but didn’t use the break chances.

Question: The stands were full on the #NextGen court – and some people wondered why your match against the defending champion didn’t take place on the center court. You too?

Kohlschreiber: The tournament has an extremely large number of top-class players here. So it’s stupid to say: Hey, John, you’re number ten in the world, but you’re playing on the supposedly small square. That’s why I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision to make. But we also had a great time. Too bad it’s over already. Because I love to play in Vienna. Lucas served incredibly well, from behind I was clearly superior. And at the nine break points there was only one where I might have had a mini chance.

Question: How was the transition from Lars Uebel to Tobias Summerer as coach?

Kohlschreiber: It’s smooth, because I’ve known Tobi for a long time from many training matches with Flo Mayer. Of course, there’s a certain difference.

Question: Alexander Zverev has already said that he will not play the Davis Cup final tournament next year. How does that look with you?

Kohlschreiber: Well, if I still play tennis at all, I’m a bit older. No! No! No! I’m not worried about that yet. Now we have the Davis Cup at home, where a real Davis Cup feeling will come up again. I hope everyone’s playing. I’ll be there. But it’s still a year to the final. I’m not worried about the US open next year. I just want to play good tennis, stay fit. I’m not gonna categorically say no. There is no player who says this is a great appointment. This way the season is longer. Paris-Bércy is the final for most players, except for the first eight, nine. Then you wait three weeks to play another big event. That’s not very good now.

Question: The thoughts of a career end are meant seriously?

Kohlschreiber: I also play well. And I order three doping tests a week because everyone is surprised that I am so fit. But there are also other things: the family, you want to be more at home, travelling is exhausting. It’s not so easy to say after all these years: Super, now I’m in Melbourne for the 16th time. Of course, I may be highly motivated again in January. But then at some point perhaps the last will is missing, then you take defeats too easily, and then you can also stop.

Question: Are you going to prepare for the season again with the tour group around Dominic Thiem and Günter Bresnik?

Kohlschreiber: Yes, of course. There’s a monster atmosphere, the external factors are great. It’s a very family, funny group. I get along very well with the Austrians. And we don’t call Günter Günter, but Il Commandante. Because that’s where he makes the announcements.