Querrey hoping for another great Heineken Open run
January 10, 2012
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- Sam Querrey photo by www.photosport.co.nz
2009 Heineken Open finalist Sam Querrey
is back in New Zealand to see if he can kickstart a great year after
injuries marred his 2011 season.
The American is a former top
20 player who is one of this year's wild card recepients, a move he's
thankful for. “I played here a few times in the past and it's a
great tourney. Thanks to Richard (Palmer) for the wild card.”
This
year's tournament marks his third visit to Auckland after playing
here in 2008 and in 2009, when he lost to Juan Martin Del Potro of
Argentina, who went on to capture the US Open later that year.
“I
had a great run in '09 and played great. Hopefully I can put in
another good run like that together,” he said. “This tourney has
a good field again and the remodel of the club is great."
A year ago, Querrey was ranked a career
high #17 but an elbow injury contributed to his ranking dropping to
its current #93 on the ATP tour. He had surgery which caused him to
miss the French Open and Wimbledon, but the American says he's
feeling great now. “My elbow is 100% now – it's been good since
October/November and I'm feeling great.”
Querrey's good mate John Isner, the
2010 Heineken Open winner, isn't in here this year but there are two
young Americans on hand to help fly the American flag: Donald Young
and Ryan Harrison.
Querrey says he is excited about the
potential of the current crop of US players. “We've got a good
group right now and hopefully by the end of the year we can have 5-6
guys in the top 25 or top 30,” he said. “Donald and Ryan are both
great players and I'll be cheering for them both this week.”
As for the rest of his season, Querrey
says he hopes to get his ranking back where it was. “It's not
something that can happen with one or two tournaments,” he said.
“It's a process that can take six months but I'm ready for the
challege and hopefully I can get my ranking back up there."
Querrey hopes to show Auckland tennis
fans his aggressive game and big serves this week. He holds the
record for most consecutive service aces served – an astonishing 10
in a row in a 2007 match against James Blake.
Querrey will start his 2012
Heineken Open campaign against fellow American wild card Harrison today.
