08.06.2021 11:31:54 | 08/06/2021 11:31:54 a.m.| Jiří Veselý has a chance to rewrite the statistics of the Prostějov challenger which include three triple champions: Jan Hájek, Radek Štěpánek and Jiří Veselý himself. The former two have already retired and it has been a big dream of the Czech number one to win the domestic tournament for the fourth time. Veselý won it in 2014, 2015 and 2017: he outplayed Gombos of Slovakia in the final in 2014, Djere of Serbia a year later and Delbonis of Argentina in 2017.
“I greatly value every title I won at home. It has always been a fantastic experience to win in front of my loved ones and my friends, let alone for the club for which I want to achieve most successes. On the other hand, it’s also very difficult. Everybody thinks I’m the favorite, but the competition is getting better and harder every year.“
What has Jiří Veselý been reminding before the MONETA Czech Open tournament recently? “I believe I will get on the winning wave.”This year, Veselý wanted to regain his self-confidence on grass in Stuttgart, but he finished in the first qualification round after losing to Dennis Novak of Austria. At Roland Garros, he lost to Khachanov of Russia in the first round and, before then, to the Paul of the United States in the second round in Parma. To find Veselý’s best tournament this year we have to go back to the beginning of February when he made it to the quarterfinals at the Murray River Open in Australia! He gradually defeated Silva of Portugal, excellent Casper Ruud of Norway, Berankis of Lithuania and only retired from the last eight to Auger Aliassim of Canada owing to a shoulder ache. Then, Veselý got sick with COVID and the promising form from Australia was gone! “The disease took virtually all my strength. I tried for a some time, but the results did not come. I discussed it with my team and decided I should take a break to improve my fitness. There was yet another problem. I'm one of those tennis players who need to play a lot of matches and travel from tournament to tournament. That's the only way I can play with ease. This was not possible at the beginning of the season. There were fewer tournaments, my self-confidence dropped even lower and I played half as good without it,“ said Jiří Veselý sadly. He still believes his successes will come back at home.
