Jurgen Melzer Hopes for Wimbledon Success

For the past decade Jurgen Melzer has been dreaming of one day winning the coveted Wimbledon title. Having claimed the title as a junior in 1999, the Austrian has struggled to replicate his success as a senior and has never made it past the third round of the illustrious grass court event.

This year Melzer hopes he can finally progress to the latter stages and prove that he has the ability to cause an upset. “If you win Wimbledon juniors then you always dream of one day winning the seniors as well. This is such a special event with so much history, I just hope I can go a long way in the tournament.”

There is a newfound confidence in Melzer, thanks in large to a fantastic season that has seen him rise to a career high ranking of 16. The left-hander is also coming into the tournament off the back of his best ever result in a Grand Slam. Although he lost to eventual champion Rafael Nadal in the semi final of the French Open last month, Melzer claimed victories against David Ferrer and Novak Djokovic.

“I am heading into Wimbledon with so much confidence as I have had the best year of my career,” describes Melzer. “Reaching the semis of the French was unbelievably emotional as the whole of Austria seemed to be cheering me on. It was a great experience and something that I want to try and replicate at Wimbledon.”

It will certainly not be an easy task for Melzer who has struggled to make any sort of impact at Wimbledon. His career has also coincided with one Roger Federer, arguably the greatest player of all time and a master on grass.

“I am pleased to have won two titles, but I have come up against some very tough opponents. There are some fantastic players on the tour, in fact some of the best ever, but you can’t make excuses. I am pleased that I have stayed fit all these years and I am still looking forward to winning more titles.”

Melzer is also hopeful that his success can have a positive effect back home. It is a long time since Austrian tennis fans have had something to cheer about. The last major success came courtesy of Thomas Muster who won the French Open in 1995 and became the number one tennis player in the world a year later.

“I was talking to friends back home in Vienna and they told me that everybody was starting to watch tennis again. It is nice to think that I have helped promote the game and given it value again. Everyone has been expecting a new Muster, but unfortunately players of his class don’t come around very often.”

Although Melzer may end his career without a Grand Slam title his achievements within the game should not be undervalued. As well as his two singles titles, Melzer has won seven doubles tournaments and often competes in both the singles and doubles at slams.
This year Melzer will be pairing up with Phillipp Petzschner in his pursuit of a Wimbledon title, while in the singles he will hope to improve on his best result and advance past the third round.

“I am feeling very confident coming in to the tournament as I am at my career high ranking and playing really well. During the last year I have managed to win close matches against very good players, which has certainly helped to boost my confidence.

“A lot of things have come together to contribute to this good form, I am fitter than ever before so if I can make it through the first week then we will see how far I can go.”

Having come through the first round against Dustin Brown, Melzer will be hoping that he can recreate his French Open form and shock one or two of the established seeds.

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