Sitting on a leather armchair in the headquarters of the Spanish team, Marcel Granollers (Barcelona, 39 years old) travels from one extreme to the other: from what is now distant to the happy present that continues to enjoy the hand of Horacio Zeballos, Onionhis running mate. This year both triumphed at Roland Garros and the US Open, as well as reaching the top of the circuit. The Catalan, with three Davis Cups under his belt, savors it and claims it: he doubles. “Why not?”. After not being able to participate in the entire qualifying phase, his presence is transcendental for Spain, scheduled for this Thursday in the quarter-finals with the Czech Republic (10.00, Movistar+), to improve its options despite the unexpected loss of Carlos Alcaraz.
Ask. In his case, the double player ended up devouring the list of singleseven though he was 19th in the world at the time. Which stage did you like the most?
Answer. I don’t want to compare them. My individual stage was the dream I had as a tennis player, the one I dreamed of since I was a child, and I would have signed with my eyes closed to get where I got. What is happening now is different, it has completed me. At a certain point I made the decision and the doubles allowed me to experiment with other things, win tournaments that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible. I wouldn’t compare them, I would simply differentiate them.
Q. Are you tired of the fact that, somehow, in countries like Spain the modality has to continue to be claimed? Lack of recognition?
R. The thing is, in my case, I don’t need it. I’m here, doing my job the best I know how, and trying to push myself every day. It’s all I need, nothing more. I’m happy with my career and what I’m looking for is that when I finish it, I can be happy and proud of it. Everything else… My goal is to leave with a clear conscience and feel like I’ve been honest with myself.
I don’t look for recognition. My goal is to leave with a clear conscience, being honest with myself
Q. People still talk about you in a secondary way, but you have reached very important heights. Don’t you think you’ve already earned a more relevant status?
R. In reality I decided to play doubles to win this type of tournament, to win a Slam one day, and I succeeded. I became number one and that makes me proud, because it’s not an easy task.
Q. In Spain, little value is given to disciplines or modalities that have a lot of weight in other countries. Is there a lack of sporting culture?
R. I don’t think so, but I would say that given the circumstances, it’s not considered an option. The player who doesn’t arrive or struggles more seems less, he is seen as a failure and this should change. It seems like you’re not worth it. In other countries there are federations that support it to the maximum and where doubles are encouraged to be the first option, why not? Try it! It’s a very nice way to experience tennis, because not everyone can be a super player individually. We need the clubs in Spain to support him, to think that there is another path and that we can live with that. Which is a viable option. There are countries that have that culture, but others don’t. We need it not to be seen as something Bad. There are tennis players who could try it before retiring from individual tennis, but it doesn’t feel like that push exists.
Q. I suppose, after what he achieved this year, he deserves the attention. It took a year to frame, didn’t it?
R. Yes, yes, yes… It was at vintage. I would sign that next year would be the same, including injuries. The first one (bib number, just arrived in Australia) hurt me, because in the end in doubles you have a partner and he and his team depend on you, and not being able to compete is complicated. I’ve been out of competition for two months and you wonder if you’ll be able to come back anyway, but you have to trust the process. Both Horacio and I worked hard and had the patience to reach the level we did.
Q. He is 39 years old and his partner is 40. He is asked quite frequently whether he will retire despite his successes. Is there a bit of ageism?
R. If you take care of yourself and are lucky with injuries, because if you stop for eight months you have a problem, in this mode there is no age at which you say: ‘I have to retire no matter what’. There are cases like Boppana (45), who with 43 was number one and won the big one he has, so… It’s a mode that isn’t very physical and allows you to extend your career, so as long as you have the head you have gas to continue, you continue.
Q. To what extent do you take care of yourself? Are you also following a paleo diet and red and yellow glasses?
R. Well look, I actually have some yellow ones and some red ones in the room… So you can imagine.
Q. But does it work or not?
R. I don’t know… The thing is, there’s an explanation and a why behind it, so anything can help. Besides that, I try to follow my routine with the gym and the topic of nutrition, for a while here, is something that I look at and try to control well, because it interests me.
Red and yellow glasses? I have some. There is an explanation behind it, so anything can help
Q. Elite tennis requires little less than obsession. What do you imagine doing the next day? More and more tennis?
R. I don’t know, but when I’m done I’d like to share my experience with some players who are trying to evolve or with young guys; everything I’ve been through, the good and the not so good. It would be a way to give back to tennis what it has given me over the years.
Q. I mean, more tennis…
R. Yes, actually yes. We need to see how it’s done, because in the end if you become a full-time coach you get back into the wheel. It’s about looking for the right formula.
Q. You’re from Espanyol, but what other things do you like?
R. I tried to start playing golf, at a very beginning level, but due to the pectoral and foot injury (during the US Open), I haven’t played at all this year. The only thing missing is that I make a mistake… Now that I’m better I’ll take it again because I want to raise the level little by little.
Q. I’ll put you in trouble. You lived with Nadal and Alcaraz, which of the two are you with? Who impressed you the most?
R. They are two phenomena. Rafa doesn’t play anymore, but everything he achieved and the way he did it is only possible if you are a tennis and competitive beast; the two things must be put together; that hunger he had… He won everything, but he continued to take to the track with the humility of wanting to improve, and that’s brutal. In Carlos’ case, responding the way he does to the pressure circumstances he’s facing, at that age, also tells you he’s a different beast. He is a boy with extreme potential, capable of doing everything and on any surface. Both feel the need to improve some details, and this is not easy at all. Crushing stone one day, and another, and another, and another…
Q. He has been a professional since 2003, his journey is very long. What do you think about the evolution of tennis in conceptual and business terms, as an industry?
R. I wish the calendar wasn’t so saturated and that there was a margin of disconnection that doesn’t exist at the moment. Recharging your batteries is very healthy, but at the pace we always go, it’s very difficult not to get exhausted because you feel like you can’t get out of this wheel, because you barely have time for yourself. We should find a balanced path, even if I don’t know what it is.
Q. That means generating less, right?
R. It starts on January 1st and we are now at the end of November… And it’s not over yet. On December 20th you have to fly to Australia again, with the preseason in between, and so on year after year… You don’t have enough time to recover, it’s just like that.
Q. Are you one of the romantics and don’t like what you see today, or do you think, like Jim Courier, that current tennis is “the best we’ve ever seen”?
R. For as long as I can remember, I have always seen great tennis. I was lucky enough to experience one of the most beautiful eras of this sport up close, if not the best, but every era has its own things. This simply evolves. Before they were more specialists, whether on dirt, grass or fast, with a more marked style, but now everyone plays well on all surfaces.
Alcaraz is vital, but we can compete to win any challenge. Let’s try until we die
Q. It seems that Sinner and Alcaraz anticipate the future, competing at a hellish pace throughout the match. Are you surprised?
R. The speed at which the game is played today is very high, both have great ball flow and are capable of generating winning shots from any side. Its intermediate rally is very high, to be honest.
Q. Which of the two strikes you more?
R. I really like Carlos, he has incredible variety and can do many things. Sinner is now trying to implement more of that variety into his game… I’d say they’re both unique, each with their own style and personality. Both are trying to reach their best version.
Q. There are two more sick.
R. When they play a game, the next day he thinks about how to hurt him with other solutions. They are constantly evolving players.
Q. To what extent did Spain depend on this Davis of Alcaraz?
R. Let’s see, a player like Carlos… He would be important for any team. He’s our best player, number one, so obviously he’s very important for us. Its importance is vital. He couldn’t be with us, but I think we have a team competitive enough to be able to win any challenge. And we will try until we die.
Q. And how much depends on you? Because it is also capital.
R. The same as the rest of the colleagues. We’re here to help
NOSTALGIC DUEL ON THE BENCHES
CA | Bologna
At that time, when Granollers managed to climb to the first 20access was sold dearly and even more towards the upper layer. There, classics like David Ferrer or Tomas Berdych, forced to argue with the three giants and Andy Murray.
The Spaniard reached the third step of the circuit and played in the Roland Garros final (2013). The Czech won Wimbledon (2010) and became number four. Two thoroughbred competitors who will find themselves today from another position: the chairs. Captain one and the other.
During their time as players they faced each other 16 times, with an 8-8 split. In the Davis Cup it happened once, in 2012. The Alicante player won in Prague (6-2, 6-3 and 7-5), although the Czechs won the tie (3-2) and would ultimately be crowned.
Previously they could have met, but in the 2009 final they did not meet. However, Ferrer certified the last point for the Spanish team, clearly superior (5-0) to Palau Sant Jordi. That day the fourth Salad Bowl was celebrated.
Host Italy, however, beat Austria 2-0 thanks to victories by Matteo Berrettini (6-3 and 7-6(4) over Jurij Rodionov) and Flavio Cobolli (6-1 and 6-3 over Filip Misolic). In doing so, they joined Belgium, their rival on Friday, as semi-finalists.
