Daniel Altmaier ensures a big surprise on day two of the French Open. His highest level helps him with this-and the support of analysis data.
It is difficult to oppose the magic that a Grand Slam tournament radiates in the first few days. Especially equipped with a “ground ticket”, you can easily drive yourself over the side places of the tournament facility for hours. Look here, maybe watch a well -known name or a talent there and then continue. Again and again the view of the smartphone goes, in the hope that something interesting will happen in the numerous places and ideally there is also a free place on the most full stands.
On Monday afternoon, however, most spectators had not yet reached that something special on the beautifully situated Court Simonne Mathieu, at the utmost edge of the facility in Bois de Boulogne. At first, the ranks were only sparsely filled. Daniel Altmaier, number 66 of the current tennis world rankings, met the top 10 player Taylor Fritz. A clear thing, one would think.
Beautiful: The Court Simonne Mathieu
“Paris is special”
But in the course of the match it seemed to be slowly talking that something special could happen. At that time, Altmaier had just won the third set and was still a sentence from victory. In the end there was after four sets, and in front of now fully occupied ranks, the biggest surprise of the men’s tournament so far.
Maybe you could have guessed this in advance. Because Daniel Altmaier has made a name for himself for memorable matches on the red ashes of Paris in recent years. Two years ago, he was probably the most spectacular match of the 2023 edition, and then won over five hours against the still not world list of Jannik Sinner.
In autumn 2020 he won during the pandemic edition in the third round against Matteo Berrettini. Altmaier is aware of the importance of the Grand Slam in the French capital for his own career, often characterized by superfluous: “Paris is special because I have had success here. You can get here with a different emotion. This emotion at aHaving em Grand Slam will be very positive for me in the long term. “
Altmaier’s tactics are fully
Against Taylor Fritz, Altmaier played into a frenzy temporarily. The one -handed backhand worked from the start. Again and again the German was able to maneuver his American opponent. Fritz stated afterwards that this year he could not make the important points in the crucial situations: “I played ninety percent of the match normally. But the last ten percent decide the match – and I didn’t win these points.” Fritz moved badly, his otherwise massive, safe game was ineffective against Altmaier. His play tactic had fully worked.
Daniel Altmaier (L) and Taylor Fritz after the game.
If Altmaier talks about his tennis, he sometimes sounds like a project manager. In the press conference after the victory, he spoke a lot about “the process” and the structure he would like to give his game. Data that is now also comprehensively available to tennis professionals takes Altmaier to improve his game and explains the approach with a comparison: “In football, everyone knows which passport is played. Tennis is still hanging back, but it is so that the top players do not go away from their game.
“Team Altmaier” with high goals
Spanish is spoken in the “Team Altmaier”. A few years ago, the Kempener took the step to South America and has been preparing the season preparation there since.
Two coaches, the former top 10 player Alberto Mancini and Martin Cuevas from Uruguay, are responsible for the game. A fitness trainer travels full -time with Altmaier, a physiotherapist will be added from the lawn season. The team he built around him is already worthy of a player from the front regions of the world rankings. Accordingly, the goals are also plugged up: “When I play in this rhythm, I will be solid in the top 50 and my goal is to be set at the Australian Open.”
He has repeatedly been able to prove that Altmaier is on the spot at the big matches in Roland Garros. That it is also one of the attractions on the outdoor spaces. On Wednesday it is now against the Czech Vít Kopřiva, number 86 of the world rankings. There is Altmaier favorite. Probably he simply wants a quick, straightforward victory at this meeting. Even if the game does not become the same crowd puller as that against Taylor Fritz on Monday.