Muster is Ready for New Challenges

Written by: Staff on 12th November 2011

Muster is Ready for New Challenges

Thomas Muster bei seiner Verabschiedung nach dem Finale der Erste Bank Open 2011, Wr. Stadthalle 30.10.2011, Copyright e|motion/zolles.com/Robert Zolles Abdruck honorarfrei zur redaktionellen Berichterstattung ueber die Erste Bank Open 2011. |

Thomas Muster finally retired last month at the age of 44. His attempt to keep playing long after anyone else would have retired mostly ended in defeats for the Austrian former world number one and Roland Garros champion, not only at the few ATP events he played but also at the Challenger level.

Still, he has no regrets, as he revealed as he prepared to compete again on the ATP Champions Tour’s new stop of Santiago, Chile.

“It’s been a great experience for me,” he said. “Just to be driving around Europe and playing tournaments, having the challenge of playing younger guys has been great. I’ve improved a lot in the past few months and I’ve seen that I can be close to some good results.

“I’ve won (only) a couple of matches but it’s been more about having a challenge all year long and it’s been a really great year. The respect I’ve got from the young guys has been amazing and I’ve really enjoyed practicing with so many of them.

“It’s beautiful to be around, to win, to be accepted, to get all the respect and actually make a living out of something you really enjoy and you love. I’ve always enjoyed being a tennis player and I still enjoy it today. It’s something great I’ve been doing all my life and I’m lucky.”

To be eligible to compete on the ATP Champions Tour, players must have been either a World number one during their competitive playing careers, a Grand Slam singles finalist, or a singles player in a victorious Davis Cup team; and they should have retired from the ATP circuit.

“DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE”

Topics: Thomas Muster