French Open: Despite skepticism: Pütz after mixed title with “desire for more”

French Open
Despite skepticism: Pütz after mixed title with “desire for more”

Tim Pütz (r) and Miyu Kato in action. photo

© Frank Molter/dpa

Tennis pro Tim Pütz sees himself as a doubles player. The mixed is actually not very popular with him. The unexpected triumph at the French Open could now change that.

Mixed skeptic Tim Pütz got a taste for the unexpected title in mixed doubles at the French Open. “I noticed that it can be a lot of fun – even if it’s still a bit strange,” said the 35-year-old tennis pro after the triumph with the Japanese Miyu Kato at the classic clay court in Paris. He cannot yet sort out where this success ranks. “But it definitely made you want more.”

Frankfurt’s Pütz and Kato prevailed in the final 4:6, 6:4, 10:6 against Michael Venus from New Zealand and Bianca Andreescu from Canada. For the Davis Cup player, the significantly higher endowed and more often played doubles comes first – as with actually all specialists. In this competition, however, Pütz failed at the French Open with Kevin Krawietz in the quarterfinals. He will “relatively certainly” not play mixed at Wimbledon, but is aiming for a US Open in New York.

He was sure that double partner Krawietz would send a “semi-serious” message. “I’ve often not been the most ambitious mixed player and I’ve emphasized on one or two occasions that that’s not the top priority,” said Pütz. “Of course he rubs it in and he’s right, of course.”

Pütz and Kato decided to start together in mixed doubles shortly before the registration deadline. Should he still play mixed at Wimbledon, then “probably” with the Japanese.

dpa

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