Melzer may open tennis academy
Jürgen Melzer has revealed plans to set up a tennis training centre for youngsters after retiring.
Austria’s number one in world tennis told magazine News: “I think those who intensively think about what to do after playing on a professional level kind of have given up the sport already. Nevertheless, I can say that I want to keep working in tennis.”
Melzer added: “I can imagine working with young talents and establish a tennis academy.”
Melzer also spoke out on his slow start into the season. The 30-year-old from Lower Austria cited a loss of self-confidence and straining Davis Cup matches as two of the manifold reasons for his brief down.
Speaking about a worsening of his service, Melzer – who reached the semi final of last year’s French Open – argued that it was the most complex move of the sport.
Melzer performed better than ever in his long career in 2010. He failed to meet high expectations in the first few months of the current year before debunking claims he is past his prime by triumphing in the US Open doubles tournament alongside German Philipp Petzschner. The duo also won the ATP tournament of Stuttgart in July and this year’s edition of the Wimbledon doubles event.
Melzer is part of Austria’s Davis Cup team set to clash with Belgium in Antwerp from tomorrow (Fri). Austria’s Sportsman of the Year 2010 admitted his relationship with the media had been bad until last year. “I was missing the recognition in my home country I would have deserved,” he told News.
Melzer said he was dealing with criticism differently now, adding he tried to read less news.
The Vienna-based tennis ace admitted he was angered by claims he partied too hard after his most recent achievements. The rumours emerged following messages posted on his account on social networking site Twitter. “It goes to show you have to be able to read and understand Twitter notes properly,” he said, adding that he never drinks alcohol.
Asked whether it was true he ordered Melzer not to use Twitter anymore, the star’s manager Ronnie Leitgeb told News: “That’s nonsense. This is not the way I deal with my clients. I once kept (former ATP number one) Thomas Muster from buying a Ferrari at the age of 17, but I don’t speak out orders to a 30-year-old.”