mtenis.com.pl

As the recipient of the ATP Star of Tomorrow Award presented by Emirates in November 2013, Jiri Vesely has continued his rise this season and is now looking to establish himself among the best players in the world.

Jiri Vesely’s philosophy is a simple one. He hates losing. “I was always asking my family before a tournament, 'How many matches do I need to win to win the whole tournament?'” joked the 20-year-old Czech. “It really forces me to work on myself and play better tennis every day, hating to lose.”

It’s a trait that has served him well. In the past 18 months, Vesely has shot up nearly 200 places in the Emirates ATP Rankings. This week, he reached a career-high World No. 66 after two strong showings on the ATP Challenger Tour. After his initial breakthrough last season, the powerful left-hander has continued to make progress, despite now commanding the attention of his fellow competitors.

“Last year was a very successful year. It was a little bit of a shock, racing from No. 280 to No. 80,” Vesely told ATPWorldTour.com at Roland Garros, where he won a main draw Grand Slam match for the first time, having reached his first ATP World Tour semi-final a week earlier in Dusseldorf (l. to Karlovic).

“This year is tougher. Everyone is watching you, following you and expecting a lot. I want to be in the Top 100 and try to be as close as possible to the Top 50. That would be great.

“Confidence has been a progression,” continued Vesely. “It's not come from one or two matches. You need to know you can beat these guys. I had a tough first few months and lost some tough matches against these guys. But I knew that I was very close. Finally, I was able to beat them.

"I'm definitely playing more aggressive, serving better [this year]. It's very important that I'm playing more aggressively, having the chances to go to the net and finish the point. That's something I've improved a lot. Also, definitely, [I’ve improved] my physical side. I'm able to play longer matches, move faster on the court.”

Watch Vesely Uncovered Feature


It was announced last week that Vesely is the recipient of one of eight wild cards into the Wimbledon main draw. He lost to Dustin Brown in qualifying last year and will relish his opportunity to compete on one of tennis’ grandest stages at the All England Club for the first time.

“Being at the biggest events is something that was always my dream,” said Vesely. “I'm happy to be part of the biggest tournaments and in the Top 100. I'm trying to enjoy it, but still looking forward and trying to improve every day. I wake up every day and try to improve in the [Emirates ATP] Rankings.”

In his early years, Vesely’s tennis was nurtured by his father and his grandfather. Jiri senior was a tennis coach and Vesely caught the bug aged four after watching his father practising. But more recently, the presiding influences have come from his Davis Cup team-mates, Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek, as well as a psychologist, who Vesely began working with two years ago in a bid to temper his emotions on court.

“It's always pretty hard because sometimes there are situations on the court where you can't do anything, the opponent just plays a better point and you have to respect that,” explained Vesely. “So it's very tough to improve mentally. But I would say that staying calm a little bit and controlling my emotions is something I've really improved in the past few months.

"Definitely being [around Berdych and Stepanek] really helps me, seeing them prepare for a match, seeing what they do before a match and also after the match. We talk with Tomas and Radek quite a lot. It makes you feel like you are a part of the team and that you are someone who plays good tennis. It makes you feel confident."

And the best advice they’ve given him? "They've just said, ‘Work hard, never be proud of yourself, just keep going'."

Kyrgios and Jiri Vesely are the only players to feature on this list for the second straight year. The 2013 ATP VeselyStar of Tomorrow presented by Emirates rose to a career-high World No. 66 on the back of 16 match wins, highlighted by a run to the third round at the Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells (l. to Murray) and semi-finals in Dusseldorf (l. to Karlovic).

The Czech’s best Grand Slam result came at Wimbledon, where he survived a five-set battle against 24th seed Gael Monfils in his opener, before falling to Kyrgios in the third round. He concluded his 2014 ATP World Tour campaign with a maiden doubles crown at the Kremlin Cup by Bank of Moscow, teaming with first-time partner Frantisek Cermak.

“It is true we are playing for the first time together,” said Vesely. “We are the only two Czechs in the tournament and I know Frantisek for a long time. I was watching him when I was a small kid. I really wanted to play well with him and I think the biggest reason why we were successful was because we were aggressive and serving well.”

The 21 year old also reached consecutive ATP Challenger Tour finals on home soil in June, winning his fourth title in Prostejov and finishing runner-up to countryman Lukas Rosol in Prague.

Qualifier Jiri Vesely lived up to his “rising star” billing Saturday in Auckland, taking out fellow lefty Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour to capture his first ATP World Tour title at the Heineken Open. The World No. 63 is the first Czech to win in Auckland since Jiri Novak in 1996.

“It feels amazing to be part of the ATP champions,” said Vesely. “It’s not something that everyone is [able] to achieve, so I’m very grateful for that.

“It’s a great start for me… I can really see that it’s possible to play with the best guys and I think that’s something very important for me for the future.”

The 21 year old, named the ATP Star of Tomorrow presented by Emirates in 2013, upset World No. 13 Ernests Gulbis and World No. 16 Kevin Anderson en route to the championship. With the win, Vesely added his name to the list of ATP World Tour title winners born in the 1990s, joining Milos Raonic (6), Grigor Dimitrov (4), David Goffin (2), Bernard Tomic (2) and Federico Delbonis (1).

Watch Vesely Uncovered



In the first final appearance for both players, it was Vesely who grabbed the momentum, firing 11 aces and converting on four of seven break point opportunities.

“I was really believing in myself, that my game could be better than his, and I was just trying to be more patient and to put more balls back and just not let him play the game he’d like to play,” said Vesely.

The Czech led the tournament in aces, first and second serve points won, as well as service games won.

“When you get broken by someone who’s serving like this, you feel like it’s slipping away,” said Mannarino. “I was trying to deal with my own game and it was really tough today. I didn’t have the same feeling that I had during the week. I didn’t feel the ball the same way. Unfortunately it happened in the final.”

Jiri Vesely claimed his first singles title on the ATP World Tour on Saturday, completing a dominant week at the Heineken Open in Auckland with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Adrian Mannarino.

The Czech earned his first victories over Top 20 opposition in upsetting World No. 13 Ernests Gulbis in the second round and No. 16 Kevin Anderson in the semi-finals. The 21 year old, named the ATP Star of Tomorrow presented by Emirates in 2013, added his name to the list of ATP World Tour title winners born in the 1990s, joining Milos Raonic (6), Grigor Dimitrov (4), David Goffin (2), Bernard Tomic (2) and Federico Delbonis (1).

Read Match Report
He spoke with ATPWorldTour.com after his victory.

How does it feel to be holding your first ATP World Tour singles trophy at only 21?
It's amazing to be a part of the ATP champions. It's not something that everyone achieves, so I'm very grateful for that. It's a great start (to the season) for me. I can see it's possible to play with the best guys and that is something that's very important for me for the future.

Growing up was this a goal of yours to one day win an ATP World Tour title?
It was a goal when I was a small kid. I was always watching the top players on TV and it was always a dream to win one of the tournaments. I'm very happy to be part of the ATP's list of champions and I will keep working hard to win many of those.

You had never reached an ATP World Tour final prior to this week. What was your mindset going in against a player who was also making his first appearance in an ATP final?
I was very nervous. I might never get another chance to play a final. You never know, so you have to take it with a lot of respect. On the other side, it gave me confidence that he was also playing his first final. It made me more comfortable but I'm happy with the way I played and it was really a great match.

You played seven matches to win the title, losing only one set (going into final), how did you put it all together and your serve seemed exceptional?
I had to play qualies. I played a tough match against Lucas Pouille. I knew that he's a good player, so I didn't have many expectations. After I qualified, I played Thomaz Bellucci and every single match was difficult. I was just going match-by-match and seeing how it would go.

During your run to the title, you beat the two Top 20 players for the first time in your career (d. No. 13 Gulbis in 2R and No. 16 Anderson in SF). Did that give you extra confidence going into the final?
Definitely, if you beat two big names in the tournament. After Robredo pulled out, those guys were the top in the draw. I'm very happy for that and I'm happy the way I played. I showed up in the big moments with my serve especially. I see that I'm able to play with the very good guys and I will try to do my best to improve my level.

Talk about the offseason training that prepared you for this moment. What did you work on in particular?
I did a lot of work on the fitness side. Also with my fitness coach, we did some new, special things to be strong and ready for the season. We did a lot of work on my serve and my returns. I am playing more aggressively with my returns to put more pressure on opponents. We are working on volleys and backhands to play a more aggressive game. I'm a tall guy, so I really have to use my big hands to my advantage. I hope this is just the beginning of a long work together.

You have improved your year-end Emirates ATP Ranking the past four years. What is your ranking goal for this season?
I set a big goal, but I don't want to talk about it (laughs). It's something that you always have inside and we'll see where I finish the season. On the plane in the Czech Republic I was thinking I want 200 (Emirates ATP Rankings) points in Australia. I've actually achieved that so the next step is to play my best tennis at the Australian Open.

You are the first Czech to win the title in Auckland since Jiri Novak in 1996 (you were two years old). Do you know Jiri? What does that mean to you?
He was actually my coach two years ago. He wrote to me last night to keep going and be the next one in the list of champions here in Auckland. He also told me that this was his first tournament victory, so I have something similar with him. He was No. 5 in the world so I have a big respect for him. It's really great to share something with him.

You have put together good results on all surfaces. Do you have a favourite surface and what do you feel are the strengths of your game?​
It was always clay, but this changed the thought. Maybe it's a bit of a surprise that I can play on all surfaces. I'm a tall guy so no one really thinks I can move well on the court, but that's my advantage. That's something I want to improve on, to play the best tennis on all surfaces. All the best players do. That's why they are so special. I will work hard on my serve and improve my level.

Who were the players you looked up to and admired growing up and what did you like about them?
The first player that was my idol was Andre Agassi. I was always cutting my hair at three millimeters. My mother told me that I was sick because I wasn't looking like a healthy guy (laughs). Then it was Roger Federer. He was always winning the Grand Slams, all the tournaments, so I was really looking up to him and following him. Then when I moved at the age of 12 to the Czech Republic, it was Tomas Berdych. We are in touch and I am trying to get advice from him to get better.

Jiri Vesely could only laugh. On arriving at a baggage carousel at the Mohammed V airport in Casablanca, he soon realised that one of his bags had gone missing.

It’s a hazard that every international traveller fears.

Vesely had taken a flight from Vienna to Rome on 4 April, before he boarded a plane to Casablanca.

Upon arrival, he was soon riffling through his travel bag that included his tennis racquets, to find what clothes he had.

"One pair of shorts and old tennis shoes," Vesely told ATPWorldTour.com."I laughed."

His coach, Ladislav Simon, was also panicking. His bag was also missing. After some frantic enquiries they left for the hotel and the Complexe Al Amal, the venue of the ATP World Tour 250 tournament.


While Simon was reunited with his bag the next day, there was still no sign of Vesely’s missing luggage.

The days continued to pass. At night, Vesely "continues to wear the jeans I travelled to Morocco in".

With his first match fast approaching, Vesely was forced to borrow a tee-shirt and socks from his doubles partner Frantisek Cermak. The pair lost to third seeds Maximo Gonzalez and Robin Haase 10-3 in a Match tie-break on Wednesday.

With a mounting laundry bill, Vesely had to do something he has not done for seven years: buy his own tennis clothes.

"This morning I bought four tee-shirts," said Vesely, who broke a seven-match losing streak Thursday with victory over Mikhail Youzhny. It was his first match win since capturing the Auckland title in mid January. "I have been with Lotto since the age of 15, so I haven’t had to buy any tennis clothes for seven years."

With hopes dwindling of finding his missing bag, Vesely sought the help of ATP staff and tournament organisers today to find a Lotto store in Casablanca.

Prior to dashing off, and following a post-match massage, Vesely added, "Maybe I’ll see someone wearing my clothes!"

A new set of Lotto gear will be waiting for him, when he arrives at next week’s Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.