Marinko Matosevic reveals he got inspiration from John Newcombe – Tennis News
Current Australian number one tennis player, Marinko Matosevic, has shared that the reason behind his recent success are words of appreciation from the former world number one, John Newcombe.
Matosevic said that when he qualified for the main draw of Wimbledon Championships last year, Newcombe commented that he could enter top 50 in world rankings one day. The Australian stated it with proud that he achieved that just
in year and half.
In a recent interview, Matosevic said, "When I qualified in 2011 for Wimbledon, Newk commentated on my match and he said 'Marinko can make a top-50 player' and then one and a half years later, I managed to do it."
Such confidence of one of the best players of Australian tennis history provided motivation to Matosevic and he thanked Newcombe for that.
He added, "It's unbelievable; probably the greatest modern-day player says that about me and I want to thank him for that. And I definitely believe it as well. I've backed that up with wins over top-20 guys, so I definitely think
I can do it."
Matosevic clinched biggest win of his career when he stunned the then world number 19, Richard Gasquet of France, in the second round of the AEGON International in Eastbourne.
He made a poor start to the season, losing all of his three matches during the Australian summer. The turning point came when he captured the Caloundra Challenger after that. Then Matosevic reached the final of a tour level event
for the first time in his career, losing to Kevin Anderson in the title match of Delray Beach International.
However, Matosevic knows that he will still be under the shadow of Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic at the Australian Open. One of the main reasons behind that is his lack of success at the Grand Slam level.
Matosevic went on to say, "I know some say the spotlight will be on me, but I think it will be firmly on Lleyton (Hewitt) and Bernard (Tomic).”
The Australian player could not qualify for French Open and lost first round at the rest of three Grand Slams this year.
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