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He traveled to New York without a coach and made it into the main draw with three qualifying wins. Now Peter Gojowczyk has caused a surprise at the US Open – and a premiere.
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New York – With a loud cheer, Peter Gojowczyk celebrated his first round of 16 at a Grand Slam tournament and the biggest prize money check of his career.
“I just try to enjoy everything. It is an unbelievable feeling to leave the field as a winner here,” said the German tennis professional after his 3: 6, 6: 3, 6: 1, 6: 4 in the third round of the US Open against Henri Laaksonen from Switzerland. At the age of 32, the former Davis Cup professional from Munich is now in the round of 16 in one of the four most important tournaments in the world for the first time. Even though he is traveling all alone in New York. Without a coach, without a physiotherapist or fitness trainer.
“It’s a shame that nobody is there to clap or cheer,” said Gojowczyk and revealed with a grin: “I’m trying to involve the audience, which was certainly noticeable when I screamed after the match point.” In the fight for a place in the quarter-finals, Gojowczyk will now face third-placed Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas or Carlos Alcaraz from Spain.
Big prize money for sure
He’s already guaranteed prize money of US $ 265,000. “I’ve never received such a large check, but I’m not thinking about the money now,” said Gojowczyk. He and Laaksonen had secured a place in the main field through qualification.
After 2:07 hours, Gojowczyk, number 141 in the world rankings, turned his first match point against Laaksonen, who was in 130th position. “I did a good job today,” he said. When asked what strategy he prescribed himself without a coach, he replied: “I don’t have any. I fought for every point.” In the previous round, he had defeated the favored Serb Dusan Lajovic in five sets, after he had also surprised and amazed in five rounds with his first round win against number 23 French Ugo Humbert.
With a “disgusting” game to success
“I know when I play well and when my body is feeling good, my game is very gross to the other players, too,” he said. In the first round he was extremely annoyed that the referee had pronounced his name incorrectly several times – that should now have been done.
Gojowczyk gave up the first set after 32 minutes against Laaksonen, but then came better and better into the game. In the Grandstand, the third largest stadium on the facility in Flushing Meadows, he started his service game in the fourth set with a double fault with a 5-4 lead. But then he fended off two breakballs and continued to play courageously and with strong nerves. After a little over two hours, he was able to celebrate his greatest success alongside the 2017 ATP title in Metz and the successful Davis Cup appearance in France in 2014. “I’ll keep it simple,” he said when asked about his preparation for the opponents. “There is internet in the hotel room.”
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210903-99-85763 / 5
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