ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament 2007
Translated by Sabrina
© ABN AMRO WTT
Tommy Robredo "fresh and fit".
For a few years Tommy Robredo was the ideal son in law in
the shadows on the world top players. But since last year The Spaniard has
become part of that top by winning the Hamburg Masters and ending the season
number seven of the world. Here in Rotterdam things have been going equally
as smoothly for the Spanish all court player.
He made a great impression in his first two matches and starts today as the
favourite in the thrilling duel against super talent Novak Djokovic.
Yesterday Robredo explained, with exceptional patience, how
he was able to make the jump into the top ten.
“I always trained too hard, because I really wanted to do well no matter
what. But last year in July, when I started training with my new coach Jordi
Vilagro, I began to think differently. I stated training a little less and
was able to enjoy tennis more. I also learned to except my own mistakes and
this made me improved mentally as well. On top of all that winning Hamburg
gave me tremendous confidence.
To his great joy Robredo managed to qualify for the Masters
Cup in Shanghai.
“This made me very proud. I had a dressing room with my name on it and
my own car with a driver. I really felt like star and that made me so happy
that I’ll do anything to be there again in the coming years.”
There was however one setback, coach Jordi Vilagro wasn’t able to continue
at the end of the year.
“ He had to choose between his wife and two kids or travelling the world
with me. I understand that he didn’t choose me.”
Robredo now works with Jose Manuel ‘Pepó’
Clavet and is building his season carefully. In January he made the final
in Auckland and was halted in the quarterfinal of the Australian open by Roger
Federer. After that he went on a three-week break, which is quite unusual
so early in the season.
“The last part of last year was very hard and busy”, Robredo explains.
“That’s why I needed a break and didn’t play in the Davis
Cup- matches against Switzerland. It felt good to be in my own home for a
little longer, to cook and meet some friends. Those ordinary things really
did me good and that’s why I can start this tournament now feeling fresh
and fit."
You can view the article (in Dutch) here