Jiri Vesely: 'I would love to see ATP Cup and Davis Cup as combined event'
. A series of injuries in the last couple of years has plagued his development, reaching just three semi-finals on the Tour since 2016 and scoring 16 ATP wins in 2018, the lowest number since 2014.
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On the other hand, he created five break points on the return and one he converted in set number two was enough to propel him into the last four where he will meet a young Pole and another great server Hubert Hurkacz. After the match against Mousley, Jiri spoke about a rough couple of years he has left behind him, hoping for a much better run in 2019 and especially to play injury-free and chase much higher ranking positions.
In addition, Jiri welcomed the newly-formed team event named ATP Cup that will kick off in January next year and he hopes it will be combined with the Dais Cup someday in the future. Also, the Czech explained what makes the best players in the world so tough to beat at Majors, recalling his match against Rafael Nadal from Wimbledon last year that he lost in straight sets after a solid display that wasnt enough to shake the world no.
1 at that moment. The ATP Cup is definitely a good idea, I think team competition, in general, is really something interesting and something great for tennis, . It definitely gives you different kind of emotions when you play, thats for sure.
Players love to play for their country and some dont get to play that often and for me year after year it feels better and better. I really feel great emotions and love playing for the Czech Republic. The ATP Cup next year in Australia is a very good idea and definitely, I think it would be great to have the event combined with the Davis Cup.
Ive beaten quite a few top-20 guys and some top-10 players so I think I have the game to beat these guys, thats for sure, I just havent had the consistency. I hope to break that this year and to have better results and get to where I want to be, which is getting back to where I was and even push it a bit higher.
Its really important just to be injury free because I wasnt able to do that in the last few years and I dropped in the rankings quite badly and its not a nice position where I am now. Grand Slam tennis is always different.
I played against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon last year and I know how these guys are really prepared for the biggest events. Theyre always very physical and you really have to show something more than in regular tournaments.
I think competing with them and beating them in smaller tournaments gives you the confidence to do it at Slams as well. Im definitely happy to be through here in Canberra, all three matches have been tough from the mental side.
Ive clearly been the favorite and its never easy to go out there and play against these guys who play free with no pressure. So for me, its been good to get three good matches so far, before the Australian Open next week.
