Benjamin Becker Interview Following Win Over Zverev

Written by: Staff on 11th June 2010

Benjamin Becker Interview Following Win Over Zverev |

The following is a press interview from Benjamin Becker following his win over Mischa Zverev, 7-6(4), 6-0, at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle.

Q: Rough first set, then all of a sudden you just got everything together?

BECKER: Yes, at the beginning I was a bit tentative. If you get a break in the first service game it’s not what you want exactly. I missed an easy ball on break point. But I stayed calm. I knew I will get my chances. I had them a few service games before and then I broke him to even the match out at 4 all. So, I was happy that I stayed calm. In the second set he obviously struggled with his shoulder but I found my rhythm.

Q: Do you think in essence it is the big thing with you is, as you say, to stay calm?

BECKER: Yes, because on grass just a few points can make the difference. Even if you get a break it’s better then to get the break early because you have a lot of chance to come back. If you really focus too much on the negatives and the past it’s really tough to stay calm. And that’s really important on grass. You’ve got to stay calm, play every point because you’re going to get your chance if you do that. It’s just a matter of time when you get it and then you have to use it.

Q: Did you realize that something was wrong with his serve?

BECKER: Maybe towards the end of the first set. But I also know that it is his tactic to serve slower in order to have more time to get to the net. But after the injury break I realized that something was wrong.

Q: After the first game in the second set at changeover he walked towards you. We had the impression he wanted to retire. Did you have that impression?

BECKER: No, not rally. I just tried to focus on myself. Of course, you don’t want to hope that he has to retire because he’s injured, but you shouldn’t deal with that too much. You need to focus on your game because you never know what will happen. The painkillers might work and he’ll play on. Therefore, you shouldn’t deal with that. I just tried not to think about it.

Q: How is your work with Jan going and have you set any short-term goals?

BECKER: That’s difficult to say because it’s just the first week of our cooperation. We haven’t really had time to change a lot of things. We are here in order to get to know each other better. That’s our main goal for now. We have set the goal to play a good grass court season. It has started well so let’s hope it will stay that way for the next tournaments.

For now, we have agreed to work until Wimbledon and then we’ll sit down and discuss our cooperation.

Q: What’s his surname?

BECKER: Stoces.

Q: Will you play a tournament next week?

BECKER: Yes, s’Hertogenbosch.

Q: Do you already have a game plan against Hewitt in the semis?

BECKER: Right at the moment, I don’t, but I will try and get into the match right from the start. I know that he is a dangerous opponent. I played him last year and he dismantled me. Therefore, I will try to play a closer match tomorrow. I feel good. I know that I can play out my strengths on grass and I will also try to do so against Lleyton Hewitt.

Q: How so you see Lleyton Hewitt. He said that he thinks that he can get back to the level of 2002 when he won Wimbledon. Do you agree or do the other players think he’s not that fast and dangerous anymore?

BECKER: Lleyton is an exceptionally gifted tennis player. He was injured for a long time and still is ranked in the Top 30. This shows that he is a very strong player. It’s easy for him to come back. We regard him as a great player. He was the No. 1 of the world, deservedly. He has a strong baseline game, still moves well. I think that he has become a bit calmer which might help him in some situations. For me, he is still one of the best players in the world.

Q: So, are you afraid of him?

BECKER: No, not afraid, I have respect. But you always have a healthy respect with all opponents. Players like Lleyton Hewitt might get a bit more respect.

Topics: Benjamin Becker, Break Point, Changeover, First Game, Gerry Weber Open, Grass, Match, Matter Of Time, Mischa, Painkillers, Rally, Rhythm, Service Game, Service Games, Tactic, Term Goals