As disappointing as 2021 may be, Koolhof started this tennis year with a lot of energy. While the past year has been dominated by partner changes, a broken relationship with his coach, and anticlimax at the Olympics (due to withdrawal due to a rojer positive corona test), 2022 has little to criticize. Briton Neal Skupski (32) is the most successful duo of the tour with four championships with Koolhof (33).
“We are the team to beat so far,” said Koolhof. Neal and In can play a little more attacking but also a little more defensive. Not only do we have a plan A, we also have a plan B and even a plan C,” he said. “It’s only five months into the year, but we can already set our goals. We’re pretty sure that we go to the ATP Finals, and it’s very special. Now we want to be the best team in the world and move forward in the Grand Slam.”
Koolhof is happy to have found someone for the long term at Skupski. “We have the same views on tactics and training. It’s fun to play with the same partner for two, three or four years, also because of marketing and brand awareness. In January he opens the app and sees that we are still playing. together.”
And that awareness can be further increased, because despite his status as a world leader, the attention is somewhat disappointing. World No. 11 said: “We recently won the masters tournament in Madrid and after that we didn’t have to do any interviews. Carlos Alcaraz won the singles and probably had to hold a three and a half hour press conference,” he said.
“Recognition of couples varies from country to country. We played in the United States in March where doubles is very popular due to college tennis. And more and more people say they love couples more because there’s more to it, and it’s faster.” “But sometimes we also play in front of empty stadiums. Thus, in terms of competition form, the Netherlands is a dualistic country. We have always been a good duo and now we have a good group again.”
Koolhof will take on Skupski in the quarterfinals against Marcel Granollers from Spain and Horacio Zeballos from Argentina.
Source: RTL
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