Thomas Muster Starts Comeback at Age of 43
Former World Number One and French Open Champion, Thomas Muster, has joined the (growing?!) list of retired players on the comeback trail after many years off the Tour. Kimiko Date Krumm rejoined the WTA Tour last year at the age of thirty-eight after
thirteen years away from the sport, winning a title in 2009 and reaching a final this fall at the age of forty! Muster, who has played a couple challengers without much success so far, started his comeback on the ATP Tour “at home” via a wildcard into the Tour stop in Vienna, Austria.
Muster, who has been off the Tour for eleven years, was originally drawn to face the talented Latvian, Ernests Gulbis, but Gulbis withdrew and so Muster faced fellow Austrian, Andreas Haider-Maurer, a lucky loser. Muster went down in straight sets 6-2, 7-5 before a packed crowd of 8,700 fans. For the moment, Jimmy Connors retains the record as the oldest man to win a Tour match at the age of forty-two. On the women’s Tour, Martina Navratilova made a couple successful comebacks and eventually retired right before turning fifty and after winning a final U.S. Open title in mixed doubles!
Clearly, the tennis skills don’t disappear that easily, especially if a player trains hard again. Date Krumm, who doesn’t even play a “power game” has shown that court savvy and shot placement can still go a long way in women’s pro tennis. The biggest challenge for many “comeback players” is becoming fit enough to withstand the rigors of the Tour. Muster, who won the majority of his titles on clay and used to grind out matches, faces an uphill battle, but he seems to be relishing the challenge. Muster, who said he’s regained his passion for tennis and has been working himself back into shape, is eager to compete in 2011 and hopes that he has two good years “left in him”. More power to him!
Muster, who has been off the Tour for eleven years, was originally drawn to face the talented Latvian, Ernests Gulbis, but Gulbis withdrew and so Muster faced fellow Austrian, Andreas Haider-Maurer, a lucky loser. Muster went down in straight sets 6-2, 7-5 before a packed crowd of 8,700 fans. For the moment, Jimmy Connors retains the record as the oldest man to win a Tour match at the age of forty-two. On the women’s Tour, Martina Navratilova made a couple successful comebacks and eventually retired right before turning fifty and after winning a final U.S. Open title in mixed doubles!
Clearly, the tennis skills don’t disappear that easily, especially if a player trains hard again. Date Krumm, who doesn’t even play a “power game” has shown that court savvy and shot placement can still go a long way in women’s pro tennis. The biggest challenge for many “comeback players” is becoming fit enough to withstand the rigors of the Tour. Muster, who won the majority of his titles on clay and used to grind out matches, faces an uphill battle, but he seems to be relishing the challenge. Muster, who said he’s regained his passion for tennis and has been working himself back into shape, is eager to compete in 2011 and hopes that he has two good years “left in him”. More power to him!
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