Kevin Krawietz also aims to improve in the singles

Kevin Krawietz achieved a small milestone in Rome in his now tenth year as a tennis professional. After his victory in the doubles, he broke into the world’s top 100 doubles players for the first time. He has now even climbed to 92nd spot. “I’d be lying if I said it’s not a good feeling to be in the top hundred,” says Krawietz. “I’ve already chalked up a lot of victories this year and I’m producing very good performances. But now I have to take the next step forward.”

And what is that next step for Krawietz? “I mustn’t slacken and have to keep on raising my game, especially at ATP tournaments.” Krawietz has already won the doubles in three tournaments in the Challenger series this year and also cut a fine figure at the BMW open. Whereas Krawietz is now almost rubbing shoulders with the best in the world in the doubles, he still has a lot more potential for improvement in the singles. “Even though my results in the doubles might suggest otherwise, my focus is more on the singles,” states the 26-year-old.

Since December, Krawietz has been working with a new coach, albeit an old acquaintance. After spending many years at the “Tennis Base” in Oberhaching, Krawietz is training again with his former coach Klaus Langenbach in Munich. “I simply felt I needed a change. And he’s someone who knows me well and I can trust totally,” says Krawietz. “We had a very good preparation in December and did a lot of things completely differently.”

First and foremost, Krawietz has changed his training rhythm. Instead of two fixed training times at the center of excellence, he is now on court with his coach at flexible times, in some cases even for up to eight hours a day. “It’s a breath of fresh air for your mind when, after all the years of a set rhythm, you don’t know how long you’re going to be on the court on a given day,” says Krawietz. The new regime seems to be doing his game good. “I’m focused on court, yet also pretty relaxed, and I try to put little pressure on myself.” Langenbach and Krawietz concentrated on a lot of exercises to improve hand-eye coordination in their preparation.

At any rate, Krawietz has not only climbed up the world rankings in the doubles, but also in the singles – by more than 200 places this year to 358th spot. Yet the 1.91-meter man has a dilemma to contend with. He would really like to contest more singles tournaments, but the qualifying stage for them often coincides with the doubles final for the preceding tournament. “With my new coach, I’ve resolved to go full out in the singles in the next one to two years. Doubles alone is too little for me in the long run.”