Although the title of the ATP 250 tournament in Kitzbühel went to the Spanish favorite Roberto Bautista Agut after a 6: 2 and 6: 2, his final opponent Filip Misolic also beamed like a winner. No wonder nobody had anticipated the 20-year-old ATP debutant in advance – not even himself. “I don’t know myself what happened during the week,” said the Styrian, who did that for the Kitzbühel audience Dominic Thiem’s quarter-finals made it easy to bear.
With his entry into the final, Misolic will improve his place in the world rankings to around 135th, which will promptly make him the Austrian number one. “Of course it’s a dream,” said the young star, who promised in the same breath to keep working hard on himself. “There are still many things I have to learn.”
Misolic also demonstrated a fighting heart and commitment in Kitzbühel, where he practically played two matches in one day on Friday. Just a few hours after the 2: 6, 7: 6 (5), 6: 3 in the quarterfinals over Dusan Lajovic (Srb), the semifinals against Thiem conqueror Yannick Hanfmann (D) after 6: 2, 2: 6 and 6: 6 only interrupted by rain in the decisive tie-break at 1:0. Misolic didn’t let that get him out of the game and secured his first place in the final with a score of 7:4 on Saturday. “Only the head decided against Hanfmann in the finish. His great strength lies in the head,” said touring coach Lorenz Fink about his protégé. The latter was not stressed by the special situation: “I slept well, I was a bit tired from the day before.”
Next goal is the US Open
Not surprisingly, clay is Misolic’s favorite surface, but he’s now moving on to hard court where he hopes to qualify for the US Open. “Many say that I also bring the game for hard court with me. At the moment I don’t feel quite so safe on hard court,” described the new Austrian tennis hero.
Portrait of Filip Misolic page 4
Source: Nachrichten
