Titlar:
- Christian Grönfeldt-Sörensen/August Brostroem, Poulsen, Danmark i Tallinn, Estland J60
- Viktor Durasovic, Norge/Simon Beaupain, Belgien i Bryssel, Belgien M25
- Laura Brunkel, Danmarj/Eva Maria Ionescu, Rumänien i Pilsen, Tjeckien J200
Finaler:
- Rebecca Munk Mortensen, Danmark/Valentina Ivanov, Nya Zeeland i Alkmaar, Nederländerna W15
- Linea Bajraliu, Sverige i Pilsen, Tjeckien J200
Semifinaler:
- Lukas Andersson/Alvar Lange, Sverige i Tallinn, Estland J60
- Vaida Matuseviciute, Sverige/Alicia Taylor, Sydafrika i Hilversum, Danmark J30
- Christian Grönfeldt-Sörensen, Danmark i Tallinn, Estland J60
- Linea Bajraliu, Sverige/Beatrise Zeltina, Lettland i Pilsen, Tjeckien J200
- Ulrikke Eikeri, Norge/Ingrid Neel, USA i Bad Homburg, Tyskland WTA500
- Harri Helliövaara, Finland/Henry Patten, Storbritannien i Eastbourne, Storbritannien ATP250
Harri Helliövaara, you and Henry Patten reached semifinal in Eastbourne this week. Fin the second round you guys beat Purcell and your countrymen Ruusuvuori. How was it playing another finn?
– It was a first time for me on the ATP Tour to play another finn. But I’ve been waiting for it to happen and really enjoyed it. And not only because we won. We are good friends with Emil on the tour and even on that match day had a nice chat earlier. But of course when the match started then we were both trying our best as professionals do. Hope that happens soon again!
You and Patten have had a great start of your partnership since you build team in April this year with a bunch of titles. What are the biggest reasons to your success together so far?
– I believe we are just a very good fit. When we started it clicked immediately both on court and off court. Our game styles suit each other well, and many other things too. I am the older guy with experience and energy, Henry is the new guy on tour with great striking ability but still some learning to do. But most importantly we both have very high trust to each other.
After Roland Garros the schedule made the fascinating move from clay to grass. How do you do to adapt to the grass as fast as possible? Do you have any small tips or trcks to make it go smooth?
– Unfortunately, my clay court season ended a little prematurely as I injured my shoulder just before the 3rd round of Roland Garros. So for me the quick transition became two weeks completely off the court. But in general, as I get older I find the surface changes easier in terms of finding the timing and feeling but more difficult when it comes to keeping the body in full shape. On grass the glutes and hips are the first thing that feel tight at least for me and that’s why I need extra attention with physios in the first weeks. Got to take care of the body to be able to play well on a new surface.
Harri, you have a all time high of 7 in the world. How do you rate your chances of beating that high in the future?
– I still find it amazing that we reached that number 7 ranking just over a year ago with Lloyd. We didn’t have that super peak result but just unbeatable consistency of reaching the later rounds week after week. I hope that in the future I still can play myself to a final of a Grand Slam and maybe then be back to top 10 again.
Last year you didn’t play Wimbledon, this year you do. What do you look forward to the most with coming back to Wimbledon?
– Wimbledon is always a special tournament. I love grass, so skipping Wimbledon last year as the number 4 seeded team was a difficult choice to make. But at the same time it was the right one. This year we have a tough draw, but I have my family to support me and playing with a Brit we’ll surely get the crowd behind us as well. Would be nice to kind of get revenge for the awful W.O. I had to give at Roland Garros.
Picture: Remy Chautard / FFT
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