Estoril Open 2004 News and Events

Florian Mayer
© João Lagos Sports

It has been a year to remember so far for young German qualifier Florian Mayer, who advanced to his first career ATP quarterfinal after defeating Radek Stepanek in the second round of the Estoril Open.

The 20-year-old from Bayreuth, approximately two hours north of Munich, is playing in just his third ATP main draw this week, having announced his arrival in the big time at the Australian Open in January.

It was in Melbourne that he qualified and defeated Richard Gasquet to reach the second round and became the last German standing before eventually losing to David Nalbandian.

Despite the loss to the Argentine, Mayer was all the talk among the German media, looking for their next big star.

"I qualified and everyone was surprised that I was the last German in the draw after reaching the second round," recalls Mayer. "There were so many journalists wanting to talk to me. It was a little overwhelming at first, but hopefully I will get used to that."

It's something he will have to do if he continues his rich vain of form. Before his arrival in Estoril, Mayer captured the Challenger title in Mexico City on clay in March and now, having upset both No. 7 Gaston Gaudio and Stepanek - the man who defeated defending champion Nikolay Davydenko in the first round - has won 11 of his last 12 matches.

Experience

And Mayer is looking forward to progressing up the INDESIT ATP Entry Rankings. "For this year, my goal is to make the Top 100," said Mayer. "I'm No. 120 now, but I don't have much to defend this year, so I think I have a good chance to do that. I'm looking forward to finding out what it's like on the ATP circuit in the next couple of uears. If you do well, you always have chances to be in the main draw and to beat somebody to earn points. I'm looking forward to it and it will be a good experience."

But he admits that he doesn't know too many people at the top level at present. "It's just my third big tournament, so I don't know too many players yet," said Mayer. "I know the players below the Top 100, but I don't know many of the Top 100 just yet."

Mayer, who was introduced to the game at the age of five by his parents, turned to professional tennis after finishing school in Germany. Having grown up watching the likes of Boris Becker and Steffi Graf, there was no shortage of stars to idolize. But it was another man that caught Mayer's eye as a young teenager.

"I like Boris Becker for sure, but my favorite player was Pete Sampras. He was the best at concentrating and playing the big points. He was just amazing."

Fitness

Having trained as a junior with the German Tennis Federation, Mayer has been under the watchful eye of coach Ulf Fischer in Munich for the last two years and trains with some of the best young players in Germany.

"I know that I have to improve my fitness, so that I can play the long matches and recover for the next day, which has always been a problem for me," said Mayer. "My favorite shot is my backhand, but I have to improve my volley."

Playing on his favorite surface this week in Estoril, don't be surprised if Mayer emulates another German qualifier in Julia Schruff, who went on to reach the women's final 12 months ago.