Kecmanovic speaks about rise in tennis and training with Djokovic

Prior to his breakout performance at the BNP Paribas Open 2019, Kecmaovic was ranked 130 in the world and held only one tour-level win. He would lose in the qualification but enter the main draw as a lucky loser. He would seize that opportunity in the best way possible reaching the quarterfinals and never looking back.

One year later Kecmanovic sits at 47 in the world looking to climb even higher. Speaking of his goals he said:

"The goal for this year would be Top 30. If I can finish the year there that would be awesome for me and I’ll take it step by step. I don't want to set crazy goals and then be disappointed at the end of the year. I think it's better to go step by step and then if you achieve it, that's perfect."

Climbing through the ranks was aided by his dedication to his training. Prior to the 19' season, he trained with Theim and Tenerife while this offseason he spent time with Djokovic and Federer in Dubai. He learned a lot from them:

"It’s definitely footwork. I think that's the biggest thing in tennis. Everybody knows how to hit it in, make shots. But if you're not set, you’re not going to make it. I think footwork is the big thing, and also mentally, to see the ball quicker and just go for it. You’re not waiting for it to come in. I guess [it is about] just being aggressive towards it."

He also spoke about his coach Miro Hrvatin who prepares unique training sessions for him that not only focus forehand and backhands. This past year was a year of first for Kecmanovic. He broke out, won his first title in Antalya and trained with the greats.

When asked where he improved the most he replied mentally. He further elaborated:

"I guess maybe mentally, believing more because in Indian Wells everything was new for me. I was the new guy, I didn't know anything. I’d never played on that big of a stage and now everything that happens, I think it's just a different mindset."

He further added:

"Going into matches you believe more, you think that you can win, and you try to beat everybody. You always try to beat everybody, but now you kind of believe and you have that mindset, you know that you're going in as maybe sometimes the favourite."

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