Last year, Ofner also came to London after participating in the final. The lost final at the Challenger in Ilkley even earned him a wildcard for the main event. A year later, Ofner missed out on his first ATP title, but he still reached the finals at a higher level. And the 28-year-old, who reached the third round at Wimbledon in 2017 with a run of five wins from the qualification, showed once again during the week on the Balearic island that he is very good at playing on grass.
Ofner climbed nine places in the world rankings published on Monday and is now back in the top 50 in 45th place, while Eastbourne semi-finalist Vukic improved by twelve places to 69th.
No Wimbledon training after travel chaos
Ofner didn’t have much time before his eighth appearance in the main draw of a major tournament, the third at Church Road. The journey from Mallorca to London was also chaotic. The plane was so delayed on Sunday that he didn’t even have time for training the day before his first appearance at Wimbledon. “Now he has to start the tournament without training,” reported manager Moritz Thiem.
First big success celebrated on grass
Not all grass is the same, as Ofner has already discovered during his appearances in Stuttgart and Halle this season. The grass at Wimbledon is meticulously maintained and cared for, and that is not the only reason it is called “Holy Grass”.
“I had my first big success in my career on grass,” Austria’s number one fondly recalls his run in 2017. Back then, as a qualifier, he had eliminated world number 18 Jack Sock (USA) in five sets in the second round, before Alexander Zverev became a stumbling block in the third round.
IMAGO/Icon SMI/Chaz Niell/Icon Sportswire In 2017, Ofner made it to the third round of Wimbledon as a qualifier
Ofner certainly doesn’t have much time to enjoy his first tour-level final. “The first final is a small breakthrough. I’ve already played in a semifinal two or three times, the first time in a final is unbelievable. I was relatively far away from that this season,” he recalled his somewhat mixed season before the French Open. But soon the focus was entirely on the next highlight of the season. “The first match is in Wimbledon in two days. That is just as important because a Grand Slam is a Grand Slam.”
Relatively satisfied with the draw
Ofner is relatively happy with his draw. “I think it’s really okay, of course it could have been much worse and also a lot better,” said the Styrian, and immediately gave the reason for it. “He plays really well on grass and hard courts and should be in good shape. He has now won a few matches on grass. It will definitely be an interesting match,” he said of Vukic.
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If it turns out to be as interesting as this year’s round of 16 in Marrakesh, it could be a long match. Back then, Vukic won 7:6 (11/9) 2:6 7:6 (9/7). Ofner had missed a match point and therefore had a score to settle with the 81st ranked player in the world. “It’s obviously ‘best of five’, which is another small difference. We both serve really well. In Marrakesh, it was a tough, close match. If I play well, anything is possible.”
Duel with defending champion possible
Ofner is of course aware that if he wins he will most likely face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the second round. “Above all, it would be really cool because I would be playing on the center court,” said Ofner, and that would be a first for him. “That would be really cool, he is one of the best players at the moment.” Ofner has gained enough self-confidence on Mallorca, which is the only tournament facility in the world with grass, clay and hard courts. “Absolutely. I feel good, I play well, so I think anything is possible.”
