interview
DTB head Dietloff von Arnim desires to develop into the president of the ITF world tennis affiliation – in an interview with Sportschau, he talks about his concepts, the Davis Cup match in opposition to Alexander Zverev and Switzerland.
Dietloff von Arnim has been the head of the German Tennis Association since the starting of 2021, however he desires to go one degree greater and develop into the president of the ITF World Tennis Association. For that, he needed to substitute the incumbent David Haggerty from the US at the Congress in Cancun, Mexico in September. In an interview with Sportschau, he talks about his views, the huge hole behind Alexander Zverev and the upcoming Davis Cup opener in opposition to Switzerland.
Sportschau: Mr. von Arnim, you might be operating for the presidency of the ITF World Tennis Association – why?
“At the finish of final summer time, a number of nationwide associations requested me if I may think about operating for workplace. I considered it for some time after which I mentioned sure as a result of I believe the ITF and tennis basically may very well be finished higher. “
What do you imply by that?
“These are the first precedence points, event uniforms, scoring, overseas illustration, communication with massive and small nationwide associations, group competitions. talks.”
Are the ATP and WTA too robust as gamers’ unions and as ITF president do you need to change that?
“For me, it is not about energy. In truth: there are at all times many voices on the stage from the Grand Slams, the ATP, the WTA. But now you want somebody to speak for tennis round the world. It needs to be the ITF.”
Are you trying to do double obligation as Acting President of the German Tennis Association, or is just one potential?
“Of course, just one job is feasible. The ITF rejects twin roles, and that is proper.”
You have been the head of DTB for two years. What is your private steadiness, what did you alter?
“Unlike different sports activities, we have been in a position to improve the variety of individuals in German tennis by roughly 5 p.c per 12 months throughout the Corona interval. It exhibits that tennis is alive.”
In the skilled sector, on the different hand, the scenario now seems to be very dangerous. At the current Australian Open, there have been no Germans left in singles in the second week of the event. No one is extra constantly represented at world degree than Alexander Zverev. What is fallacious with selling younger expertise, why is it so usually troublesome to progress from junior to senior degree?
“You’re proper. A 12 months and a half in the past at the US Open, there have been 4 Germans in the final 16. But general, the Australian Open just isn’t a slide, it additionally displays the world rating – that is the place we’re. Too far behind Zverev.”
Why and what are you doing about it?
“Snapshot is the results of assist launched eight or ten years in the past. We have modified just a few issues now, however it might bear fruit in the future. A concrete instance: we assist excessive skills a lot earlier. We go to the ministries of training of the federal states to supply extra flexibility and digital educating to gifted folks. , as a result of with a purpose to compete at a excessive degree in tennis, it’s good to go to worldwide tournaments early – 5 days off One college 12 months just isn’t sufficient for this. I’ll take the circus stage for comparability, particularly there are lecturers assigned to the household of showmen – I can think about it in excessive degree tennis as nicely. But as I mentioned , digital studying alternatives can be notably vital.”
Team occasions are the place the Germans at all times impress. Now that Davis Cup has been lower from its fundamental sponsor – is it forward of a giant conventional occasion?
“I do not assume so, however on the one hand we’d like financiers who perceive the group occasions in tennis nicely. On the different hand, we’d like to consider adjustments. So far, what I’ve heard from many international locations is that the prime tennis competitions additionally should go to smaller international locations. We have a number of huge tournaments in Germany, however Denmark and Norway, for instance, has world-class gamers, however there are not any appropriate occasions to entertain folks there anymore, so the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup can be a very good sport, each dwelling and away – once more this weekend in Trier in opposition to Switzerland it is like we’re taking part in a sport.”
Switzerland include 37-12 months-previous Stan Wawrinka – is Germany the clear favorite?
“No. Be cautious: Wawrinka continues to be a category participant, I noticed Marc-Andrea Hulser myself at the Australian Open, he can carry out in singles and doubles. It will probably be 5 fascinating matches, we’ve to be very cautious.”
Russia and Belarus have been disqualified from the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup due to their conflict of aggression in opposition to Ukraine. Wimbledon organizers additionally banned athletes from Russia and Belarus. And the ATP and WTA are taking the reverse tack and even slapped a hefty tremendous on Wimbledon – what’s your tackle this battle?
“My place is evident: we should permit the athletes of those international locations to play with out flags, however not the groups. Therefore, I believe it’s proper that Russia and Belarus should be excluded from the tennis Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.”
Will you could have opponents once you run for workplace in September?
“Yes, the present president David Haggerty He desires to compete once more from the USA. Let’s look.”
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