Henri Laaksonen is currently sporting the worm. So far he has only been able to win two victories in the main draw of an ATP tournament. After the first lap, the terrain is usually over. The 30-year-old doesn’t let that bother him before the French Open.
At the home tournament in Geneva, there is another disappointment for the world number 95. Already in the qualification is over. 4: 6, 3: 6 he fails against the German Benjamin Hassan (ATP 321).
“Of course it’s not always easy. I haven’t played that well in the past few weeks. That sometimes happens in tennis, »says Laaksonen. At the Masters in Miami and the 250 tournament in Melbourne he celebrated his only victories on the tour so far – both against Benoit Paire (ATP 67).
“That is hard”
In between, there was a ray of hope at the Davis Cup in March, where he won both of his individual games for Switzerland. In the other tournaments, however, the momentum has evaporated. “It’s tough and doesn’t help with self-confidence. But I trained well. Hopefully it will show up on the court soon. »
Laaksonen knows all about the patience game. The Swiss with Finnish roots went through a similar low in form last year. It just didn’t work out on the pitch, the defeats kept coming. Just in time for the sand season we went uphill again. There was no special trick to turn things around. “Sometimes it just suddenly starts rolling.”
Bittersweet memories of last French Open
During the video call with a view, the 30-year-old seems relaxed despite everything and seems to trust his extensive tour experience. And who knows, maybe this time it will work out in the city on the Seine with the second week of the tournament. ‘Let’s hope so. Last year I got better from game to game.” At that time, an adductor injury in the third round threw him off track.
World number 11 knocked out! This is how Laaksonen conjures up a round in Paris(00:44)
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Unlike the last French Open, Laaksonen does not have to go through the qualification this time. He intervenes directly in the main field. His motto: “I just have to keep believing in myself and at some point it will pay off.”
Cleaning yourself in quarantine: Laaksonen’s fight with the vacuum cleaner(00:39)
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