Sarasota Open player Jason Kubler trying to grind his way into Top 100
SARASOTA — Whether or not the label has been a blessing or a curse depends on your perspective.
Sporting the same kind of physical build and tenacious style of play, Jason Kubler has often been called, “the right-handed version of Rafael Nadal.”
At 28, the former No. 1 junior player in the world from Brisbane, Australia, handles the comparison with grace ... and a chuckle.
“When I was younger, we both had similar results,” Kubler said after grinding out a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 first-round victory over India’s Sumit Nagal at the Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open. “I think that is sort of where it came from.
“Except he’s going one way, and I’m still trying to get there. I will keep trying to improve and hope to get into the Top 100 or Top 50.”
Plagued by a hereditary knee condition that has hampered his career, even as a junior, Kubler was forced to play on clay courts only for nearly three years. He feels fine on the clay courts at the Payne Park Tennis Center, despite the condition that hampers the meniscus in his knees.
However, it was a right shoulder injury in 2017 that derailed his career for nearly a year. Unable to play, Kubler’s world ranking was above 900. During the course of a year in 2018, he remarkably rose more than 800 spots to break into the Top 100 at No. 91.
Now ranked 182, Kubler hopes to repeat the same kind of year he had in 2018.
“I’m still sort of on a comeback after those four years,” Kubler said. “I have been a bit unlucky in terms of playing six months here and six months there. It’s great just to get to continue playing.
“This is one of those tournaments that if you do well, you can gain momentum that can continue on to the French Open. I am going to try and do my best and, hopefully, I can do well. If I can do well, who knows what could happen next.”
Sarasota Open notebook
• Area tennis legend Nick Bollettieri took in the sights and sounds of the Sarasota Open earlier this week. Several former students and current players paid homage as they passed by. Included in that group was Brian Gottfried, a longtime Sarasota resident who went on to a storied career winning 25 singles and 54 doubles championships — he learned the game under Bollettieri’s guidance in Miami in the late-1960s. At 90 years old, the man who started the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton in 1978 still puts in some hours working at what is now known as IMG Academy. His logic for still showing up at the office is very basic. “I’m still at the Academy quite a bit,” Bollettieri said. “I have to work to pay alimony to eight ex-wives.”
• Alexander Ritschard, 28, of Zurich, Switzerland, is playing in his first Sarasota Open. He got off to a great start by beating two-time Sarasota Open finalist Tennys Sandgren 7-5, 6-3 in his first-round match on Elizabeth Moore Court. “I am overjoyed about this win,” Ritschard said. “It’s always great to be able to say you beat Tennys Sandgren. It was definitely a huge win for me.” Tennis has made Ritschard a world citizen. He spent several years in Florida in his younger days at three different tennis academies, including IMG. His tennis travels are made easier by the fact that he knows English, German, Swiss-German, Italian and some French. “Every tournament is an opportunity,” Ritschard said.
ELIZABETH MOORE SARASOTA OPEN
WHEN: Play in the 32-player main draw continues throughout the week leading up to the championship final scheduled for noon on Sunday.
OF NOTE: The top-ranked player in the field is Jordan Thompson of Sydney, Australia, who is currently No. 78 in the ATP world rankings.
TICKETS: Ticket prices range from $20 for general admission to more than $1,000 for certain VIP seats.
PARKING: Parking is available at the Sarasota County Public Parking Garage, as well as VIP parking for $20 on a first-come, first-serve basis.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota Open player Jason Kubler trying to grind his way into Top 100
