Miomir Kecmanović spoke to journalists after reaching the round of 16 at the Australian Open.
Izvor: YouTube/Australian Open/Screenshot
Miomir Kecmanović follows Novak Djokovic, he made it to the round of 16 at the Australian Open. His next opponent is Carlos Alcaraz, a Spanish tennis player who threatens Nolet and attacks the first place in the ATP list. Misha can stop him on that way. The match will be played on Monday, and the Serb can’t wait to get on the field.
He defeated two seeded players in the previous two rounds, first Jan-Lenard Struf (Germany), then Tommy Paul (America), both after five sets. “I feel good, I want to play matches in five sets, to see how ready I am. I will now have some time to rest, I am overjoyed, I made it to the second week of the tournament,” began Kecmanović.
He played only one match with Carlos, in March 2022 in Miami, and then he really made him suffer, three sets were played, and the Spaniard celebrated only after the tie-break.
“It won’t be easy with Alcaraz, he’s fantastic. We played two years ago, we haven’t met since then. He’s done a lot and it won’t be easy, I have to play at my best level, we’ll see what happens. Karlos is aggressive and that’s the reason why he wins points, when it’s difficult and uncertain, he goes for points, he attacks and I have to watch out for that. I will play freely and try everything.”
Source: Debby Wong / Zuma Press / Profimedia
After the English part, it was the turn of the Serbian media to ask questions. First, about the match with Polo, in which he saved two match points in the fourth set, then won the set in a tie-break (9:7), and finished the job with 6:0 in the fifth.
“Even though it was tight, he had match points, but I gave my all until the end, I didn’t want to think about what would have happened if it had happened. I was lucky to draw. I continued firmly in the fifth set, he fell, I took advantage it. During the whole match, I had the feeling that I had many opportunities to hit his serve, it was uncertain, it was played, I couldn’t break it, it annoyed me terribly during the whole match. It ended well in the end.”
Miomir is currently the 60th player in the world, his best ranking was in January last year when he was in 27th place. He himself is aware that he has the potential for much more.
“The main thing for me is that I want very much, that I am hungry to go back to where I was and to do something, I spent a lot of time around 30-40-50 places, I have had enough. I want to break through, to go to the end, as far as I can. There is no point, if I can already, to be satisfied with where I am. It pushes me forward.”
When asked if he sees himself in the top 10 in the world, he answered briefly and clearly. “And“.
Source: Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP / Profimedia
Considering the games he provides, the two matches in which he saved match points and that he showed incredible mental strength, he was also asked if this reminds him more of Rocky from the famous movie with Sylvester Stallone in the lead role or John McClane from ” Die Hard” played by Bruce Willis. “If we’re going to do that, then I choose Roki. He always wins in the end, he is an outsider, I need exactly that in the next round on Monday”
This was followed by the statement that Alkaraz is listening to the song “Eye of the tiger”, which is the trademark of the Rocky movies. “Let him listen then,” Misha laughed.
The match with Alcaraz will most likely be played on Monday at “Rod Laver Arena”. “I played on Wimbledon’s Center Court, I didn’t play this one. It’s great that I’ll be playing on one of the biggest courts. I can’t wait for it to start.”
Miomir hopes that there will be a large number of Serbian fans in the stands. “It means support to me, it means a lot, when it’s hard and when you think you can’t find a way, it means that you hear your people, that they believe and that they are there for you. Even though Nole is not at Laver, I hope they will come the more they will cheer,” Kecmanović concluded.