Shortly before Max Rehberg opens what is probably the biggest match of his career so far, he takes another deep breath. The roles are clearly distributed. On the one hand Rehberg: 18 years old, for the first time in an ATP 250 tournament, world ranking 1,068, it’s his first senior season. On the other hand, Miomir Kecmanovic: Permanent representative at the Grand Slam tournaments, world number 38, last opponent: Novak Djokovic.
“Vamos!” – Rehberg cheers himself on
Born in Munich, Rehberg tripped up the ball one last time on the center court of the MTTC Iphitos, tossed it up, hit it well and clenched his fist a short time later. The first point goes to him – and also the first game; he comments on the 1-0 with a short: “Vamos!”
Great hope in the DTB
Rehberg is one of the greatest hopes in German tennis. Last year he was the best German player under the age of 18. Played the youth tournaments of the US Open, the French Open, in Wimbledon he made it into the last 16, although he was only able to prepare on a private pitch because grass pitches are rare in Munich.
Now he’s 18, has just finished high school – and because the past year went so well in terms of sport, he decided to concentrate on his tennis career first. His goal is to achieve an ATP ranking between 750 and 500 this season. “It’s going to be very, very hard. It’s not an easy path, but I have a lot of positive energy,” Rehberg told Bayerischer Rundfunk.
Rehberg: “It’s only my first year”
So far, the season for Rehberg is still a bit mixed. In Tunisia, he made it to the third round at the ITF M15 in Monastir, a first respectable win and two ATP points. But against opponents from the 500 ranks, i.e. where he wants to go, there were always significant defeats. “A lot of people say I haven’t had a good season so far. But it’s only my first year. I showed again today that I can win more, even in the higher tournaments. It won’t be long before I can take the next big step,” says Rehberg confidently.
The youngster fights his way into the game
On the center court of the BMW Open, Rehberg fights his way into the game and can annoy Kecmanovic again and again, provoking annoyed reactions from the opponent and shouts of enthusiasm from the spectators. But the 22-year-old Serb is too good. The first set ends with 6:2.
Rehberg also comes in well in the second set, can even win a game with zero, plays spectacular winners and saves difficult balls. Once he is about to break – but the referee overrules his assistant. A 40:15 becomes a 30:30. “It was very, very bitter,” says Rehberg after the game. “I also thought I heard the line, but I must have misheard it. Balls like that are inside next time.”
Less experienced than the opponent
The longer the game lasts, the more you notice that he is significantly less experienced than his opponent. When Rehberg dominates a point and has time to think, he often makes the wrong decision. In the end he loses the match against the Serbs 6:2 and 6:3. Rehberg stays on the court for a long time, is given autographs, takes selfies with fans and friends.
“Of course I was a bit nervous at first, but that quickly subsided. Then I really enjoyed it: It was really cool to play on Center Court. The spectators behind me – here in my hometown. I think there is something nicer I don’t,” summarized Rehberg.
Learning from the “old hand”
For Rehberg, the BMW Open is not over yet despite the singles end, he is competing in doubles with someone who has already seen a lot on the tennis court: Philipp Kohlschreiber from Augsburg. The veteran sees great potential in the 18-year-old: “He definitely has the potential to play his way up in German tennis. But he still has a lot to do, has to work hard. But if he does that, I don’t know , which should stand in the way of success,” said Kohlschreiber in the BR interview.
Kohlschreiber is optimistic about the doubles: “Of course I’m happy. Max has been on the pitch with me for many hours in Oberhaching. But of course it’s something different in the tournament. We’ll prepare well, we’ll have fun and we will obviously want to win this thing.”
He hopes that Rehberg can learn something from him as an “old hand” that will help him on his further career path. He will next lead Rehberg to the Challenger tournament in Meerbusch. Here he will continue to hunt for ATP points and hope to to draw attention to get more wildcards for Challenger tournaments.
Important for personal development
Appearances like the one against Kecmanovic can help with that. Also in his personal development: “I’ve seen that tennis is not just a mental sport, but a very physical one: It’s very exhausting. It takes a lot of work off the field. That’s something that has become clearer to me again today is.”
In order to make it to the top, Rehberg trains at the BTV tennis base in Oberhaching. The best young German players cavort there – and also many professionals who help the players to develop their game. “Hanfmann, Kohlschreiber is there sometimes, especially Mansur,” Rehberg lists and adds: “You talk to them a lot, they give you tips: How do you play, how do you deal with difficult situations and that helps you even before one of them does big tournament.”
encounter with the future
For Rehberg, the appearance in Munich was perhaps a bit far, an encounter with his future. Because not so long ago, Kecmanovic was where Rehberg is today: at the beginning of a promising career: “There are now four years difference. The tableau is now 6: 2, 6: 3. But I was definitely able to play, unfortunately I didn’t take one or the other chance. If I’m like him now in four years, I would be very, very satisfied, “says Rehberg. His trip will definitely take him to Munich again. “I hope it doesn’t was my last time on center court,” says Rehberg.